Electret formation and charge storage in single crystal zirconia

Fully stabilized zirconia ZrO/sub 2/-Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/, 9.8 molar YO, exhibits behavior characteristic of electrets in most respects. Samples are characterized with attention to quasipermanent charge retention. A theory has been developed for the formation and decay of thermoelectrets to explain quantitatively different materials under different conditions as well as to explain semiquantitatively their decay and thermally stimulated discharge process.<>