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Effect of Direct Microwave Sintering on Structure and Properties of 8 Mol% Y 2 O 3 –ZrO 2
Author(s) -
Thridandapani Raghunath R.,
Folgar Carlos E.,
Kulp Andrew,
Folz Diane C.,
Clark David E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of applied ceramic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1744-7402
pISSN - 1546-542X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7402.2010.02570.x
Subject(s) - sintering , materials science , microwave , inert , cubic zirconia , yttria stabilized zirconia , composite material , metallurgy , ceramic , physics , quantum mechanics
Fully stabilized‐zirconia is proposed as an inert matrix for next‐generation nuclear fuels. This study presents the application of microwave technology for lowering the sintering temperature of 8 mol% yttria–zirconia (8YZ) to minimize the loss of volatile actinides that will be incorporated into the fuels. Direct microwave sintering results were compared with microwave‐hybrid and conventionally sintered samples. Direct Microwave Sintering of 8YZ showed a reduction of 300°C in temperature required for full densification when compared with conventional sintering. A difference of 200°C was observed with microwave‐hybrid sintering. Despite these differences in processing temperatures, the variations in resulting properties were negligible.