Polarization-assisted surface engineering for low temperature degradation-proof in yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics

• Main Authors: Naohiro Horiuchi, Yu Tsuchiya, Norio Wada, Kosuke Nozaki, Miho Nakamura, Akiko Nagai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2015-06-01
• Series: Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies
• Subjects: Yttria stabilized zirconia; Defect engineering; Low temperature degradation; Thermally stimulated depolarization current; Hydrophilicity
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2187076415000147
• ISSN: 2187-0764

This study demonstrates that electrical polarization inhibited low-temperature degradation (LTD) of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Electrical polarizations, which were confirmed by the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) measurements, were induced by an applied dc voltage. The induced polarizations caused hydrophilic surfaces. The more hydrophilic the surfaces became, the more resistant they became to degradation. We propose a mechanism of LTD inhibition in which the electric repulsive force induced by the polarizations prevented the invasion of water into the inner part of the YSZ.