Stress-induced cubic–tetragonal transformation in partially stabilized ZrO2: Raman spectroscopy study Original Research Article

Regularities of the cubic–tetragonal transformation (C→t′) in partially stabilized zirconia were studied with Raman spectroscopy and high-temperature Raman spectroscopy techniques. New ‘low temperature’ mechanism of tetragonal nanoparticles formation in a volume of cubic solid solution was revealed in ZrO2–Gd2O3 (Eu2O3) (6–8 mol%) single crystals. This mechanism includes nucleation of the tetragonal nanoparticles due to diffusionless C→t′ phase transformation at the first stage and gradual decrease of the stabilizer concentration inside t′-domains after subsequent low-temperature annealing. Predominant orientation of tetragonal domains due to the stress-induced C→t′ transformation was registered in ZrO2–Gd2O3 (8 mol%) single crystals.