• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2001

A gem-quality yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide crystals were synthesized by the skull-melting method, using the RF electrical apparatus. Principal raw materials used were $ZrO_2$and 25 wt.% $Y_2O_3$as stabilizer and 0.03~0.05 wt.% $Nd_2O_3$decolorizing agent were added to it. The single crystals were approximately 20$\times$63 mm in size with chemical composition $Zr_{0.73}$ $Y_{0.27}$ $O_{1.87}$ . The crystals are isotropic with no appreciable anisotropism under a polarizing microscope. Their refractive indices are in the range of 2.15~2.18, specific gravity 5.85, Mohs' hardness 8~8.5, and reflectivity 13.47%. The zirconia crystals were confirmed to have cubic structure with Face-centered lattice(Z=4), space group Fm3m ($CaF_2$-type structure) and unit cell parameters are a=5.157 $\AA$. The optimal growing conditions for yttria-stabilized zirconia are 50 kW, 2.94 MHz in power and to use a crucible with 105 mm $\times$ 135 mm in size. When the lowering speed of the crucible was set 16mm/hr gave the best yield, 42%. Since the refractive index(2.15~2.18) of cubic zirconia is smaller than that of diamond, the angle between crown and pavilion should be fashioned to make it smaller than $40.5^{\circ}$ to show the maximum brilliancy and fire.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2002

A colorless and transparent zirconium oxide ($Zr_{0.73}Y_{0.27}O_{1.87}$) crystal has been synthesized by the Bridgman-Stockbager method. The gem-quality material is produced by adding 20${\sim}$25 wt.% $Y_2O_3$ (stabilizer) and 0.04 wt.% $Nd_2O_3$ (decolorising agent) to the $ZrO_2$ powder. It shows a vitreous luster with a slight oily appearance. Under a polarizing microscope, it shows isotropic nature with no appreciable anisotropism. Mohs hardness value and specific gravity is measured to be 8${\sim}$$8{\frac{1}{2}}$ and 5.85, respectively. Under ultraviolet light it shows a faint white glow. The crystal structure of yttria-stabilized zirconia with 0.27 at.% Y has been re-investigated, using single crystal X-ray diffraction, and confirmed to be a cubic symmetry, space group $Fm{\overline{3}}m$ ($O^5_h$) with a=5.1552(5) ${{\AA}}$, V=136.99(5) ${{\AA}}^3$, Z=4. The stabilizer atoms randomly occupy the zirconium sites and there are displacements of oxygen atoms with amplitudes of ${\Delta}/a{\sim}$0.033 and 0.11 along <110> and <111> from the ideal positions of the fluorite structure, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.553-558
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• 1997

Colorless and transparent cubic zirconia($Zr_{0.73}Y_{0.27}O_{1.87}$) crystal has been synthesized by the Bridgman-Stock-bager method(also called Skull melting method). $Y_2O_3$ is used as stabilizer. The crystal shows a vitreous luster with a slight oily appearance. Under a polarizing microscope, it shows isotropic nature with no appreciable anisotropism. Mohs hardness value is measured to be $8{\sim}8\frac{1}{2}$ and specific gravity 5.85. Under ultraviolet light it shows a faint white glow. The crystal structure of yttria stabilized zirconia was determined, using single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques to be a cubic symmetry, space group $Fm\overline{3}m({O^5}_h)$ with $a=5.1552(5){\AA}$, $V=136.99(5){\AA}^3$, Z=4, and R=0.0488 for 29 unique reflections. Each zirconium atom is at the center of eight oxygen atoms situated at the corners of a surrounding cube and each oxygen atom is at the center of a tetrahedron of zirconium atoms. So a coordination of 8:4 holds in the structure.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.159-163
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• 2010

Co-(0.5 mol%) and Ce-(0~0.3 mol%) doped cubic zirconia ($ZrO_2:Y_2O_3$=64:36 mol%) single crystals grown by a skull melting method were heat-treated in $N_2$ at $1200^{\circ}C$ for 3 hrs. The brown-colored as-grown single crystals were changed into either green or blue color after the heat treatment. Before and after the heat treatment, the YSZ (yttriastabilized zirconia) single crystals were cut for wafer form (${\phi}7mm{\times}t2mm$) and round brilliant cut ($\phi$ 12 mm). The optical and structural properties were examined by UV-VIS spectrophotometer and X-ray diffraction. Absorption by $Ce^{3+}(^2F_{5/2},\;_{7/2}(4f){\rightarrow}^2T_g(5d^1)),\;Co^{2+}(^4A_2(^4F){\rightarrow}^4T_1(^4F)$ or $^4T_1(^4P))$ and $Co^{3+}$, change of ionization energy and lattice parameter were confirmed.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.164-170
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• 2000

Neutron single crystal and powder diffraction techniques have been applied to the structure analysis of yttria-stabilized zirconium, Z $r_{0.73}$ $Y_{0.27}$ $O_{1.87}$., prepared by the skull-melting method. The crystal structure has been determined to be cubic symmetry, space group Fm/equation omitted/ with a=5.155(2)$\AA$, V=136.99(5)$\AA$, Z=4, and R(F)=5.65%, $\omega$R(I)=10.57% for 70 integrated intensities of Bragg Peaks observed from single crystal of Z $r_{0.73}$ $Y_{0.27}$ $O_{1.87}$. The stabilizer atoms randomly occupy the zirconium sites and there are displacements of oxygen atoms with amplitudes of $\Delta$/a~0.033 and 0.11 along <110> and <100> directions from the ideal positions of the fluorite structure, respectively. There are no significant differences in crystallographic data between the single crystal and powder studies. Diffraction pattern after Rietveld refinement, using neutron powder data, has shown the evidence of a tetragonal impurity phase, or a slight tetragonal distortion.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2012

Co-(0.8 wt%) and Ce-(0.4 wt%) doped cubic zirconia ($ZrO_2$ : $Y_2O_3$ = 80 : 20, 70 : 30, 60 : 40, 50 : 50 wt%) single crystals grown by a skull melting method were heat-treated in $N_2$ at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 5 hrs. The orange, yellowish brown and brown colored as-grown single crystals were changed into either brownish red, yellow and green color after the heat treatment. Before and after the heat treatment, the YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) single crystals were cut for wafer form (${\phi}6.5mm{\times}t2mm$). The optical and structural properties were examined by UV-VIS spectrophotometer and X-ray diffraction. Absorption by $Ce^{3+}(^2F_{5/2,7/2}(4f){\rightarrow}^2T_g(5d^1))$, $Co^{2+}(^4A_2(^4F){\rightarrow}^4T_1(^4F)$ or $^4T_1(^4P))$ and $Co^{3+}$, change of ionization energy and lattice parameter were confirmed.