zirconia

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Figure 1: Resistance to cracking in transformation-toughened zirconia. In a ceramic composed of tetragonal zirconia dispersed in a zirconia matrix, the stress field advancing ahead of a propagating crack transforms the small tetragonal particles to larger monoclinic particles. The larger particles exert a crack-closing force in the process zone behind the crack tip, effectively resisting propagation of the crack.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of a zirconia oxygen sensor used to monitor automobile exhaust gases. The sensor, approximately the size of a spark plug, is fitted into the exhaust manifold of an automobile engine. The thimble-shaped zirconia sensor, sandwiched between thin layers of porous platinum, is exposed on its interior to outside air and on its exterior to exhaust gas passing through slits in the sensor shield. The two platinum surfaces serve as electrodes, conducting a voltage across the zirconia that varies according to the difference in oxygen content between the exhaust gas and the outside air.

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zirconia

chemical compound

Also known as: zirconium dioxide

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Related Topics:: oxide; transformation-toughened zirconia

zirconia, zirconium dioxide, an industrially important compound of zirconium and oxygen usually derived from the mineral zircon (see zirconium).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.