Physical-chemical processes of obtaining ceramic materials based on nanopowders of oxides of zirconium, yttrium, cerium and aluminum

In the study of nanoceramics, it is necessary to constantly keep in mind the closest interrelation of the production method with its structure and properties. Nanoceramic materials are used in various technical fields as structural and functional materials. It is also widely used in medicine. Nanoceramics is harmless, stable and has a great affinity with living organisms. ZrO2-based nanoceramics have a lower elastic modulus than other oxide materials. The specificity of its application lies in high resistance to rupture and thermal shock, in chemical stability at high temperatures. However, it is necessary to solve the problem of increasing the fracture toughness of ZrO2-based ceramic materials. The complex doping of ZrO2 with yttrium and cerium oxides and the use of an Al2O3 additive increase the fracture toughness and decrease the negative effect of materials in a biological environment. In this paper, the main physicochemical properties of ceramic powders and materials of the ZrO2–2Y2O3–4CeO2 – Al2O3 system, synthesized by chemical deposition of inorganic precursors using the sol-gel technology, are considered on the basis of scientific data and experimental studies. The doping of pure zirconium oxide with stabilizing oxides Y2O3, CeO2, and thermal hardening of Al2O3 ensures that the tetragonal structure is maintained at room temperature, which makes it possible to slow down and control the crack resistance of the material under load. The effects of sintering temperature and aluminum oxide content on the microstructure and grain size, as well as the physicomechanical properties of the resulting ceramic material of ZrO2–2Y2O3–4CeO2+1 wt.% Al2O3 and ZrO2–2Y2O3–4CeO2+3 wt.% Al2O3 were studied.