Effect of holding time on the mechanical properties and microstructural evaluation of 3Y-TZP ceramics

Abstract

The extensiveness of additives such as CeO2 and Al2O3 in enhancing the mechanical properties of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (3Y-TZP) is examined. The samples are sintered at temperature ranging from 1250 to 1550 °C for different holding time of 12 mins and 2 h. The optimum amounts of dopants and sintering time are 0.5 wt% CeO2/0.3 wt% Al2O3 and 2 h, respectively. At these optimum conditions, the doped 3Y-TZP ceramic samples exhibit density of 5.96 g/cm3, Vickers hardness of 10.9 GPa, fracture toughness of 10 MPa.m1/2, Young's modulus of 238 GPa, and flexural strength of 750 MPa. © 2017 Australian Ceramic Society.