Microwave Absorbency Change of Zirconia Powder and Fiber during Vacuum Heating

Abstract

Stabilized zirconia shows rather high microwave absorbency at room temperature, and the absorbency become higher with increasing temperature. In this study, stabilized zirconia powder, partially stabilized zirconia powder and zirconia fiber were subjected for microwave absorption measurements at elevated temperature. Microwave absorption measurements were done by using a system consists of a microwave vector network analyzer, a circular wave-guide fixture and a vacuum furnace. Microwave absorbency was evaluated by the reflection power change from the sample in the circular wave-guide fixture under vacuum heating. Microwave absorbency of stabilized zirconia powder, partially stabilized zirconia powder and zirconia fiber gradually increased with the increase of temperature. We supposed that the increase of microwave absorbency is related to the ionic (oxygen) conduction behavior of stabilized zirconia. Stoichiometric composition ZrO2 powder was also subjected for a measurement to consider the relation between microwave absorbency and ion conduction of zirconia. As the result, stoichiometric composition ZrO2 powder was not absorbed microwave power even when the powder was heated up to 900oC because it isn’t an oxygen ion conductor.