Studies on high temperature deformation behavior of 3Y-TZP ceramics

The present work reports the results on the deformation behaviour of ZrO<SUB>2</SUB>-3 mol% Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> (3Y-TZP) ceramics which were prepared by pressureless sintering at 1400°C. Dense, cylindrical samples were subjected to uniaxial compression tests under a constant stress of 15 MPa in the temperature range of 1200-1400°C. The ceramics exhibit considerable ductility, attaining over 60% true strain without any edge cracking. Microstructural changes due to interaction of grain boundary viscous phase with the ultrafine and equiaxed grains were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Results show the grain boundary sliding accompanied by a diffusion accommodation process as the predominant deformation mechanism in these ceramics