Effect of waste‐derived MA spinel on sintering and stabilization behavior of partially stabilized double phase zirconia

Abstract Cubic‐stabilized zirconia ceramic composites have been synthesized by conventional sintering, starting from commercial m‐ZrO ₂ , Y ₂ O ₃ , and waste‐derived magnesium aluminate spinel (MA) powders. In this work, the effect of sintering temperature and MA content on stabilization and densification properties of YSZ have been duly considered. MA‐free YSZ0 composite sintered at 1600°C‐1700°C revealed m‐ and t‐ZrO ₂ dual‐phase structure where its m‐ZrO ₂ was partially stabilized upon temperature rising into tetragonal phase by Y ³⁺ diffusion inside zirconia structure. YSZ10‐50 composites containing 10‐50 wt% MA demonstrated dissimilar behavior where their m‐ZrO ₂ was transformed and stabilized into a cubic form by diffusion of Y ³⁺ , Mg ⁺² , and Al ⁺³ inside zirconia lattice. Furthermore, densification of YSZ10‐50 powder mixtures by conventional sintering at 1600°C for 2 hours resulted in fully dense compacts with micrometer‐sized grains. The outcomes indicate that MA has a significant effect on m‐ZrO ₂ stabilization into the cubic phase structure at room temperature. In this respect, this study offers huge potentials for developing fully stabilized c‐ZrO ₂ ceramics that could be possibly used as industrial ceramics for structural applications of harsh chemical and thermal environmental conditions.