Sintering densification and properties of Al2O3／PSZ （3Y） ceramic composites

The content of partially stabilized zirconia has remarkable influence on densification and mechanical properties of Al2O3/PSZ(3Y) ceramic composites. When 15%PSZ(3Y) is added to Al2O3, after vacuum sintering for 2h at 1 550℃, the fracture toughness and bending strength of the Al2O3/PSZ(3Y) ceramic composite reaches 8. 2MPa · m^1/2 and 884 MPa, respectively. The effect of the content of PSZ(3Y) on relative density and mechanical properties was investigated. The change of m-ZrOz and t-ZrO2 phases content before and after fracture was measured by X-ray diffraction quantitative phase analysis. It is confirmed that improvement in bending strength and fracture toughness of the Al2O3/PSZ(3Y) ceramic composite is due to the phase transformation toughening mechanism of PSZ(3Y).