Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Silica-doped (SiO2= 0–1.0 mass%) zirconia (3 mol% Y2O3-doped tetragonal ZrO2) compacts are prepared from hetero-coagulated and well-dispersed suspensions by colloidal processing. The suspensions are consolidated by a pressure filtration technique. The green density of the compacts consolidated from the well-dispersed suspensions is higher than that from the hetero-coagulated suspensions. The lower density of the latter compacts is improved by a subsequent cold isostatic pressing (CIP) at 400 MPa. The sinterability of the compacts at 1200 °C is greatly affected by the amount of doped silica. The densification and grain growth are hindered by silica doping above 0.3 wt% at 1200 °C. All the compacts are densificated to a relative density of above 99% by sintering at 1300 °C for 2 h.