Phase Transformation Introduced by Mechanical and Chemical Surface Preparations of Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals

Cutting of Y103-doped TZP rods by a low-speed diamond13; aw introduces an unidentified, metastable phase X13; r.Zr0 2 ) coexisting with the tetragonal (t-Zr0 2 ) and the13; uonoclinic (m-Zro 2 ) phases initially present in the sample .Further mechanical deformation of the cut surface by udentation or polishing sustains the x-Zr0 2. Chemical13; aching removes the x-Zr02 and increases the m-ZrO2 content