Stress-induced cubic-tetragonal transformation in partially stabilized ZrO2: Raman spectroscopy study

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.