Thermodynamic Assessment of the Zr–O Binary System

Thermodynamic and phase diagram experimental data relevant to the Zr–O binary system have been assessed. A set of Gibbs energy functions describing the phases in this system is presented. The adjustable parameters of the models are obtained by least-squares fit to the experimental data. The liquid phase is described by Hillert’s partially ionic liquid model. The interstitial solid solution model is applied to the metallic zirconium solid solutions bZr and αZr. The ordering αZr is described by a three-sublattice model with Bragg-Williams treatment of ordering. The two modifications of the zirconium dioxide, αZrO 2 and bZrO 2 , are modelled as stoichiometric phases. The modification cZrO 2 is described by the Wagner-Schottky model expressed in the compound-energy formalism. The gas phase is treated as an ideal solution of the species Zr, Zr 2 ,O 1 , O 2 , O 3 , ZrO and ZrO 2 . The calculated phase diagrams and values for the thermodynamic properties are compared with experimental data.