Effect of the Al2O3 content on the mechanical properties and microstructure of 3Y-TZP ceramics for dental applications

• Published in: Metals and materials international Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 545 - 551
• Main Authors: Tang, Dongxu, Lee, Ki-Ju, Xu, Jingwen, Lim, Hyung-Bong, Park, K., Cho, Won-Seung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials 01.06.2012; 대한금속·재료학회
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Machines; Magnetic Materials; Magnetism; Manufacturing; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Processes; Solid Mechanics; 재료공학; composites; residual stress; toughness; phase transformation; fracture
• ISSN: 1598-9623; 2005-4149
• DOI: 10.1007/s12540-012-3026-y

Alumina-reinforced zirconia composites containing 0 to 30 vol% of alumina were fabricated by sintering at 1550 °C for 2 h in air. The effect of the Al 2 O 3 content on the mechanical properties and microstructure of 3Y-TZP ceramics was investigated. Al 2 O 3 acted as an inhibitor of the grain growth of 3Y-TZP. As the alumina content increased, the fracture mode changed gradually from the transgranular mode to the intergranular mode and the Young’s modulus and hardness increased. The biaxial flexural strength also showed a slight increase with an increase in Al 2 O 3 content, due to the grain size refinement of the ZrO 2 matrix, while the fracture toughness, which was investigated by the SEVNB method, showed a contrary tendency. The decrement of the fracture toughness can be explained by the increase in the critical transformation stress, the decrease in the volume fraction of the transformable t-ZrO 2 and the increase in the tensile residual stress.