Novel Process Method to Prepare Yttria Stabilized ZrO2 Beads Based on the Sol-Gel Titration Technology

Based on the sol-gel titration technology, a novel process method to prepare the ZrO2 beads with the advantages of 130 nm grains and no pores is proposed. These advantages can greatly improve the bead density and hardness, decline the sintering temperature. Furthermore, the proposed method can prepare different types of the beads whose diameters range from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, and with uniform size and well spherical type. The density of the bead tested results mainly concentrate on 6.04 g/cm3, and the hardness on 1280 HV. The SEM investigation results illustrate that the bead grains are evenly distributed. The surface and cross section of the bead grains are consistent, no pores exist among the grains of finely polished section. The XRD tested results demonstrate that no monoclinic phase exists in the bead. The bead sintering temperature is only 1250 °C.