Examination of CaO-Dy2O3 for potential use as a high-temperature transformation toughening System
Similarities exist between the tetragonal to monoclinic transformation of ZrO2 and the monoclinic (B) to cubic (C) transformation of Dy2O3. On cooling the transformation occurs at 1950°C and is accompanied by an 8 % volume increase which causes shattering of bulk specimens. The transformation can be suppressed, however, by minor additions of CaO. An attempt was made to fabricate a “PSD” analogue to partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ).As-received and chemically precipitated powders of pure Dy2O3 were mixed with CaO (0 to 25 mol%), uniaxially and cold isostatically pressed, sealed in small Mo crucibles and sintered at various temperatures (1900° or 1650°C) and times before cooling or subsequent annealing treatments. Some pellets were annealed in the two phase (B + C) region at 1700°C for 2 hours before quenching. Specimens were examined by XRD, TEM, EDS, HVEM, and STEM.A fast quenching in combination with the =8 mol% CaO additions were found to be essential for retention of the high temperature B phase down to room temperature.