SBIR Phase I: Advanced, Polycrystalline t'-Zirconia Ceramics for High Temperature Applications

* 9660417爵 第一阶段小企业创新研究项目将制造多晶 用于高级应用的t '-氧化锆陶瓷。 多晶t '-氧化锆在制造工艺和性能方面都不同于常规的四相（t相）氧化锆（TZP）。 TZP陶瓷在~1500 ℃烧结，表现出高强度、高韧性，但表现出低抗蠕变性和低温老化。 T ′-氧化锆在较高温度下烧结，表现出中等强度、高韧性、高抗蠕变性和无低温老化。 抗蠕变性和低温老化性使得t '-氧化锆陶瓷在许多低温和高温应用中上级TZP。 通过2000 ℃以上的高温直接电阻加热和表面冷却，将制备具有精细表面晶粒结构的多晶t '-氧化锆陶瓷。 第一阶段将制备高抗蠕变、高强度、坚韧和抗相变的氧化锆陶瓷。 将制造和评估t '-氧化锆加热元件 多晶t '-氧化锆陶瓷的潜在商业应用包括：（1）用于熔炉的加热元件，（2）耐火材料，（3）窑具，（4）用于化学反应器的要求耐水、酸、碱侵蚀的衬里，（5）蓄热式加热器，（6）超导体的衬底，和（7）要求高抗蠕变性的结构部件。

*** 9660417 Jue This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research project will fabricate polycrystalline t'-zirconia ceramics for advanced applications. Polycrystalline t'-zirconia differs from regular tetragonal (t-phase) zirconia (TZP) in both fabrication procedure and properties. TZP ceramics are sintered at ~1500(C, exhibit high strength, high toughness, but exhibit low creep resistance, and low temperature aging. t'-zirconia are sintered at higher temperatures, exhibit moderate strength, high toughness, high creep resistance, and no low temperature aging. Resistance to creep and low temperature aging makes t'-zirconia ceramics superior to TZP for many low and high temperature applications. Polycrystalline t'-zirconia ceramics of a fine surface grain structure will be made by high temperature direct resistive heating above 2000(C and surface cooling. Highly creep resistant, strong, tough and transformation-resistant zirconia ceramics will be fabricated in Phase I. Heating elements of t'-zirconia will be fabricated and evaluated The potential commercial applications of polycrystalline t'-zirconia ceramics include: (1) heating elements for furnaces, (2) refractories, (3) kiln furniture, (4) liners for chemical reactors requiring resistance to attack by water, acids, alkalis, (5) storage heaters, (6) substrates for superconductors, and (7) structural components requiring high creep resistance.