The Effect of Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) and Cerium Oxide (CeO2) on the Structural and Mechanical Properties of Yttria Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (Y-TZP)

The effect of additions of Al2O3 and CeO2 (up to 1 wt %) on the sintering behavior of yttria-stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals (Y-TZP) were studied. The effects of Al2O3 and CeO2 on the Vickers hardness, bulk density, fracture toughness and Young's modulus were carried out on the sintered samples. The sintering temperature was ranging from 1250 degrees C to 1450 degrees C with the ramp rate of 10 degrees C/min. The results revealed that the doped samples demonstrated a stronger effect in contrast with the undoped samples. The relative densities were above 97.5 % of theoretical (i.e. > 6.1 gcm(-3)) could be obtained in Y-TZPs sintered at low temperatures, 1350 degrees C. The hardness's value of Y-TZP was increased in the 1 wt % Al2O3 and CeO2-doped samples when sintered above 1400 degrees C.