Studies on synthesis and thermal conductivity of (Gd_0.4Sm_0.5 Yb_0.1)₂Zr₂O₇ ceramic

Using Gd₂O₃, Sm₂O₃, Yb₂O₃ and ZrOCl₂·8H₂O as raw materials, a novel multicomponent rare earth zirconate (Gd_0.4Sm_0.5Yb_0.1)₂ Zr₂O₇ ceramic powder was synthesized by coprecipitation process. The powder was pressed into the compacts which were sintered into the ceramic bulks at 1600°C for 10 h. The phase composition and the microstructures of the powder and bulks were identified by XRD and SEM. The thermal conductivities of the bulks were measured by laser pulse method. The results show that the prepared powder has pyrochlore structure, and fine particle size. The thermal conductivity of the novel ceramic is lower than that of Sm₂Zr₂O₇. These results indicate that (Gd_0.4Sm_0.5Yb_0.1)₂ Zr₂O₇ can be used explored as the candidate material for the thermal barrier coatings in TBCs system.