Mechanical properties of Y2O3-coated Y-TZP ceramics

Y2O3-coated monoclinic ZrO2 nanopowder was prepared from a suspension of aluminiumnitrate, yttriumnitrate and ZrO2 powder in an alcohol / water mixture. The influence of the Y2O3 content on the mechanical properties of the densified Y-TZP materials was investigated. Fully dense yttria-stabilised tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) materials could be obtained from the Y2O3-coated starting powders by means of hot pressing in vacuum at 1450℃. Typical HV10 hardness values of 1137 kg/mm2 were obtained and the fracture toughness could be tailored up to 9.3 MPa m1/2 by the 2.0 wt % of Al2O3+1.75 mol % Y2O3-coated ZrO2 starting powder. The properties and microstructures are compared with those of conventional co-precipitated 2Y and 3Y-TZP ceramics.status: publishe