Fabrication and characterization of novel excellent thermal-protection Gd2Zr2O7/ZrO2 composite ceramic fibers with different proportions of Gd2Zr2O7

Three kinds of Gd2Zr2O7/ZrO2 (GZC) composite fibers with different proportions of Gd2Zr2O7 were prepared by electrospinning method through changing the amount of Gd3+ in precursor solutions. The thermal decomposition, crystallization process, high temperature stability and heat-conducting properties of GZC fibers were fully characterized. The results showed that there were three crystalline phases, tetragonal phase ZrO2, cubic phase ZrO2 and defect fluorite phase Gd2Zr2O7 in all the GZC fibers. The content of Gd2Zr2O7 increased gradually with the increase of Gd3+ in precursor solutions which led to the gradual slowing down of grain growth rate, the decrease of thermal conductivity and the increase of high temperature stability of the obtained composite fibers. The thermal conductivities of all the GZC fiber sheets were lower than that of 7YSZ fiber sheet. The sheets of all the GZC fibers could keep the high temperature stability up to 1300 degrees C.