Recovery of the aging-induced changes in microstructures and local structures of yttria-stabilized zirconia due to ion and atom milling

The effect of ion milling and atom milling on the microstructure and the local structure of yttria-stabilized zirconia before and after aging was investigated. For samples after aging, all thinning methods except atom milling without cooling had a significant effect, restoring them to the original states before aging. These effects are attributed to current flow exceeding the mobility-controlled threshold depending on the temperature through a specimen. Because atom milling with cooling and ion milling completely eliminates aging-induced changes, these methods cannot be used in preparing transmission electron microscopy specimens to examine changes in the microstructures and the local structures of stabilized zirconia after aging.