Spatial distribution of resistive intergranular phase in stabilized zirconia estimated by millicontact impedance spectroscopy

The spatial inhomogeneity of a resistive intergranular liquid was estimated by millicontact impedance spectroscopy in a 1-mol%-Al2O3-doped 15 mol% calcia-stabilized zirconia specimen. The distribution of the intergranular liquid depended significantly upon the sintering temperature, the cooling rate and the compact density of the green body, which indicates that the present impedance technique is useful for understanding and manipulating the local grain-boundary conduction.