Effect of bimodal pores on sintering and residual stresses of YSZ membranes prepared by non-solvent induced phase separation method

Densification mismatch and residual stresses of tri-layered yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) membranes prepared by a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method were investigated. The tri-layered membrane consisted of sponge-like structures and finger-like voids in macroscale. The densification of the two structures were characterized to elaborate their contribution to the densification mismatch, which led to residual stresses of hundreds of megapascal retained in the sintered membranes. The profile of residual stress suggested that it was related to the strain rate mismatch within the NIPS membranes, which was further quantified with an in-situ monitored camber evolution.