A further step toward the understanding of phase transformation mechanism between 10 wt. % dysprosia stabilized zirconia powders and ceramics

In this study, 10 wt. % dysprosia stabilized zirconia (10DySZ) ceramics were prepared by pressing and pretreatment method. The phase and structural evolution as well as the phase transformation behaviors of 10DySZ ceramics were investigated. Results show that the 10DySZ ceramics have the same phase composition as that of powders in final products. Differently, an asynchronous nucleation behavior of m- and c-DySZ can be recognized, the t -> m martensite transformation was inhibited significantly during the incubation period of phase transformation. The phase transformation behaviors of 10DySZ ceramics were also confirmed to be followed the new phase nucleation and growth theory. In the early stage, the inhibition of phase transformation can be attributed to the comprehensive influence from steric hindrance, internal stress and critical size effect. However, in the later phase transformation explosion period, the rapid growth of new phases as well as the increased internal stress dominated the acceleration of phase transformation of 10DySZ ceramics.