Nanostructured Zirconia Ceramic Based on Baddeleyite Domestic Raw

The relationship between synthesis conditions, structure, and properties of baddeleyite-based engineering nanostructured zirconia ceramics is studied in this work. Mined at the Kovdor beneficiation plant (Murmansk oblast), baddeleyite is a domestic material that is much cheaper when compared to its analogue, synthetic ZrO 2 , conveniently used in the production of zirconia ceramics. Zirconia ceramic with a grain size of 100–150 nm and a relative density of above 99% is fabricated, wherein a high hardness (13.3 GPa) and a fracture toughness (13.2 MPa m 0.5 ) are combined.