Preparation of zirconia transparent ceramics by low temperature microwave sintering

Nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2-8 mol%Y2O3, 8YSZ) was synthesized by a homogeneous precipitation process using urea as the precipitation agent. Zirconia (ZrO2) transparent ceramics samples have been successfully fabricated by a microwave sintering process at low temperature. The technologies of low-temperature microwave sintering and the relationships of the microstructures and properties of the specified samples have been investigated in detail. We have found out that the low-temperature microwave sintering has its obvious advantages over the other methods in manufacturing zirconia transparent ceramics.