Effect of Direct Microwave Sintering on Structure and Properties of 8 Mol% Y2O3–ZrO2
Fully stabilized-zirconia is proposed as an inert matrix for next-generation nuclear fuels. This study presents the application of microwave technology for lowering the sintering temperature of 8 mol% yttria–zirconia (8YZ) to minimize the loss of volatile actinides that will be incorporated into the fuels. Direct microwave sintering results were compared with microwave-hybrid and conventionally sintered samples. Direct Microwave Sintering of 8YZ showed a reduction of 300°C in temperature required for full densification when compared with conventional sintering. A difference of 200°C was observed with microwave-hybrid sintering. Despite these differences in processing temperatures, the variations in resulting properties were negligible.