Nanosize powder of zirconia. Explosive method of production and properties

A powder of zirconia with a typical particle size of 5–6 nm is synthesized by an explosive method. It is shown that the stabilization of the high-temperature cubic modification under standard conditions is due to the small particle size. The sequence of phase transformations is studied. The phase-transition temperatures are found to be twice those for the standard powders. It is suggested that release of a considerable amount of heat during transition of the amorphous phase to the crystalline state plays a determining role in the stabilization of the size of the primary gel particles in the explosive synthesis.