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Improvement of Phase Transformation and Densification of SiO2-ZrO2 Ceramics by Using Desert Sand as a SiO2 Source

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Abstract

Desert sand was introduced to improve the transformation of zircon (ZrSiO4) and densification of SiO2-ZrO2 ceramics. The effect of desert-sand addition on the phase transformation, densification, microstructure, and properties were investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). scanning electronic microscope with an energy disperse spectroscope (SEM/EDS), and mechanical and thermal expansion test machines. Results show that use of desert sand made the transformation temperature decrease to 1100 °C for samples with 10.0–61.5 wt% ZrO2 additions; the densification temperature can also be decreased to 1100 °C by an addition of 10.0 wt% ZrO2. ZrSiO4 was firstly occurred in the outer layer of m-ZrO2 particles by its solid reaction to β-tridymite and then grew into the ZrO2 particles to form structures of “core–shell” (ZrO2-ZrSiO4) and ZrO2 particles dispersively embedding in ZrSiO4 matrix. The ceramics were mainly composed of α-quartz, ZrSiO4, and glass phase; their relative contents depended on the ZrO2 addition and sintering temperature. A 50 wt% ZrO2 addition and sintering at 1500 °C for 2 h produced the highest flexural strength and hardness; while 10 wt% ZrO2 addition and sintering at 1100 °C for 2 h produced the highest efficiency and the lowest cost for improving the mechanical properties. This indicates success in preparation of the dense SiO2-ZrO2 composite ceramics at relatively low temperatures merely by a replacement of desert sand to pure SiO2.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Major Science and Technology Project of Inner Mongolia (ZDZX2018030), Department of Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia of China.

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This work was financially supported by the Major Science and Technology Project of Inner Mongolia (ZDZX2018030).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, 010051, China

    Yong Zhang, Z. M. Shi, Winbin Wang, Wenli Luo & Zhiwen Liu

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  1. Yong Zhang
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Yong Zhang conducted material preparation, data collection, and writing-original draft Z. M. Shi performed methodology, analysis, and supervision Winbin Wang performed analysis and figure editing Wenli Luo reviewed and edited first and final manuscripts Zhiwen Liu performed project administration.

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Correspondence to Z. M. Shi.

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Zhang, Y., Shi, Z.M., Wang, W. et al. Improvement of Phase Transformation and Densification of SiO2-ZrO2 Ceramics by Using Desert Sand as a SiO2 Source. Silicon 16, 1357–1375 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02763-2

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