Microstructure effects in the X-ray powder diffraction profile of 9 mol% Mg-PSZ

The relative abundances of the polymorphs present in samples of 9 mol% magnesia-partially stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ) have been determined by Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder determined action data. The composition of the samples is mainly dominated by the tetragonal content. Preferred orientation and anisotropic line broadening effects on this majority phase were observed. It is shown that the consideration of these microstructural effects during the Rietveld refinement is not only important with the aim of improving the refinement but also indispensable to obtain the accurate proportion of the phases. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.