Microstructural characterization and crystallization of ZrO2–Y2O3–CuO solid solution powders

ZrO2–Y2O3–CuO powders were prepared by coprecipitation method. The effects of CuO content and calcining temperature on phase structure, grain size and lattice parameters were studied. The dopants CuO inhibited the increase of crystallite size and made the lattice parameter decrease. The results show that the solid solution forms between ZrO2–Y2O3 and CuO. The obvious advantage of ZrO2–Y2O3–CuO solid solution powders is that the sintering temperature decreased to as low as 900 °C.