Mechanical Characterization of Zirconia Ceramic Composite

In this day and age, zirconia ceramics are used widely in the medical field as biomaterials for the replacement of damaged body parts. This is because zirconia is one of the closest replacements for bone tissue. However, there were a few cases regarding the failure of zirconia ceramic hip transplants. To overcome this issue, composite materials are being studied as they are able to combine different properties which are not present in a material. This study of Y-TZP/stainless steel 316 composite is carried out with the idea of providing a solution for failure of zirconia implants and also an improvement in biomaterials which will benefit the biomedical world. The study aims to determine the effects on how the increasing of stainless-steel content in the composite will affect the relative density, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and ageing resistance of the Y-TZP/stainless steel 316 composite. To carry out the research, the composite samples were prepared by mixing the powder of each samples according to their determined content with ethanol. After the powders were mixed, the powders were then pressed, followed by undergoing a Cold Isostatic Press process (CIP) and then it underwent sintering at its determined temperature. After sintering, the samples underwent grinding and polishing before being ready for testing. The outcomes of the research showed that as the sintering temperature and the content of stainless-steel increase in the composite, the fracture toughness and ageing resistance improved while the Vickers hardness and relative density decreased.