Transient-regime grain growth in nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia annealed without and with a DC electric field

Grain size exponents considerably larger than normally reported occurred for grain growth in nanoscale 3 mol.% yttria-stabilized zirconia annealed without and with a DC electric field at 1300 and 1400 degrees C. It is shown that the large exponents correspond to the transition regime predicted by solute drag theory. The observed smaller grain growth rate with an electric field compared to without is in keeping with a reduction in the capillary driving force. (c) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.