Coated zirconia particles

摘要

The invention provides a form of particulate zirconia suitable for forming zirconia ceramics in which the zirconia is stabilised in the cubic and/or tetragonal phase. The particles of zirconia are coated with a hydrous oxide of cerium and at least one hydrous oxide of lanthanum, neodymium or praseodymium. In a preferred embodiment a mixture of hydrous oxides of lanthanum and neodymium is used. Preferably the particles are also provided with an inner coating comprising hydrous titania, zirconia or alumina. The products of the invention can be converted into ceramics having a greater strength than ceramics produced from zirconia coated with a similar amount of ceria alone or those produced by physically mixing similar quantities of stabilising oxides with the particulate zirconia.