• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2001

A gem-quality yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide crystals were synthesized by the skull-melting method, using the RF electrical apparatus. Principal raw materials used were $ZrO_2$and 25 wt.% $Y_2O_3$as stabilizer and 0.03~0.05 wt.% $Nd_2O_3$decolorizing agent were added to it. The single crystals were approximately 20$\times$63 mm in size with chemical composition $Zr_{0.73}$ $Y_{0.27}$ $O_{1.87}$ . The crystals are isotropic with no appreciable anisotropism under a polarizing microscope. Their refractive indices are in the range of 2.15~2.18, specific gravity 5.85, Mohs' hardness 8~8.5, and reflectivity 13.47%. The zirconia crystals were confirmed to have cubic structure with Face-centered lattice(Z=4), space group Fm3m ($CaF_2$-type structure) and unit cell parameters are a=5.157 $\AA$. The optimal growing conditions for yttria-stabilized zirconia are 50 kW, 2.94 MHz in power and to use a crucible with 105 mm $\times$ 135 mm in size. When the lowering speed of the crucible was set 16mm/hr gave the best yield, 42%. Since the refractive index(2.15~2.18) of cubic zirconia is smaller than that of diamond, the angle between crown and pavilion should be fashioned to make it smaller than $40.5^{\circ}$ to show the maximum brilliancy and fire.