🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <19DEC92170737@fnalh.fnal.gov> boswell@fnalh.fnal.gov writes:
>
>Hello,
>  I am working with silicon diode particle detectors, and know
>of some work with diamond, which is hard to make into a detector
>because a single crystal is more efficient, whereas the depositio
>diamond traps charge at the crystal boundaries.  This got
>me thinking:  what are the electrical properties
>of cubic zirconia, and how is it made?  If you know
>where to look, I would appreciate the info.
>
>	Chris Boswell
>
Just because cubic zirconia has an index of refraction and birefringence
properties similar to diamond, don't assume its electronic properties are
similar.  I don't know for certain but I would assume that c-ZrO2 is a
really great insulator and not a semiconductor like diamond, silicon, etc.

Cubic zirconia is made by a crystal growth technique called skull melting.
The problem with growing c-ZrO2 crystals (which are typically stabilized
with small additions of Y or Mg) is its very high melting point (>2700 C)
compared to silicon's m.p. of 1410 C for example.  At such high
temperatures it is difficult (some say impossible) to find a decent
material to use as a crucible to contain the molten zirconium oxide.  This
is where the skull melting technique has an advantage. 

In skull melting, the material to be grown acts as its own crucible.  This
is done by RF heating the melt while simultaneously water cooling the
circumference.  Thus, the oxide becomes liquid in the center (due to
capacitive heating effects of the RF field) but remains solid at the edges
thereby forming its own crucible.  It was the development of this technique
that made someone a millionaire because it enabled the growth of cubic
zirconia and the jewerly market has never been the same since.

Glad you asked.

Kent Goeking
Creare Inc.
kwg@creare.com