sZrO₂-CeO₂ ceramic powders obtained from a sol-gel process using acetylacetone as a chelating agent for potential application in prosthetic dentistry

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to obtain single-phase β-ZrO₂ powders with so-called soft agglomerates reproducibile morphology with acetyl-acetone as a chelating-agent. To the best of our knowledge there is no avaiable data which determine the effect of acetyl acetone on the phase composition and morphology of ceria-doped ZrO₂ powders for biomedical applications. Methods: Twenty variants of powders with different water to zirconia precursor and acetylacetone to zirconia precursor molar ratios were prepared. 0.9ZrO₂0.1CeO₂ powders were obtained by a hydrolysis and condensation and further calcination of zirconium n-propoxide in a simple one-step sol-gel process. Influence of acetyloacetone to zirconia precursor on the phase composition ratio and water to zirconia precursor was investigated. Samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. Results: Ceramic powders prepared by sol-gel process, according to the various concentration of chelating agent and water show different morphology and phase composition. Conclusions: Higher molar ratios of AcAc in range with smaller amounts of water cause hard agglomerates, obtained powders are characterized by highly thermally stable behaviour and various phase composition. With higher molar ratios of water to zirconium-n-propoxide so-called soft agglomerates and one phase powders are obtained.