Effects of boron doping and pre-heat treatment on the stabilization of tetragonal zirconia in sol-gel-derived ZrO2–SiO2 glass–ceramics
Journal of Materials Science, cilt.61, sa.15, ss.10050-10066, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 61 Sayı: 15
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10853-026-12452-1
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Materials Science
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.10050-10066
- Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The long-term performance of zirconia-based glass–ceramics in structural applications, such as restorative dentistry, depends on phase stability, controlled microstructure, and optimized mechanical properties. This study systematically examines the effects of boron doping and pre-heat treatment on the phase evolution, microstructure, and hardness of sol-gel-derived ZrO2–SiO2 glass–ceramics. Xerogel powders containing boron (1–4 mol%) were pre-treated at 650–1000 °C and consolidated by spark plasma sintering. Boron addition promoted tetragonal ZrO2 stabilization, while pre-heat treatment enabled controlled crystallization and grain growth. The 2 mol% boron-doped sample showed the highest hardness (7.88 GPa), ~ 6% higher than the undoped composition at 900 °C. Excessive boron addition at higher temperatures slightly reduced hardness due to lower density. Moderate boron doping effectively stabilizes tetragonal zirconia and tailors microstructure through a simple, scalable, and cost-efficient route, offering a promising strategy for high-performance zirconia-based glass–ceramics in structural and dental applications.