Predicted pyrochlore to fluorite disorder temperature for A₂Zr₂O₇compositions

In a previous publication the order–disorder pyrochlore to fluorite transformation temperatures for a series of A₂Hf₂O₇pyrochlores were predicted [C.R. Stanek and R.W. Grimes: Prediction of rare-earth A₂Hf₂O₇pyrochlore phases.J. Am. Ceram. Soc.2002,85,p. 2139]. This was facilitated by establishing a relationship between these temperatures and the energy required to introduce a specific defect structure into the perfect pyrochlore lattice. Here an equivalent relationship for A₂Zr₂O₇pyrochlores was generated, and from this the disorder temperatures for a number of compositions including Eu₂Zr₂O₇were predicted.