Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Multiscale Zirconia Ceramics Prepared by Field Assisted Sintering Technique

Two kinds of powders of 3 mol. % yttria stabilized zirconia (3Y–TZP) with different particles sizes; one was 20 nm denoted by N whereas the other was 0.5 µm denoted by M, were mechanically mixed via ball milling machine using different amounts of N wt. % to obtain multiscale zirconia composite powder. Then the mixed powders were sintered by field assisted sintering technique (FAST). The effect of N content on the microstructure as well as on mechanical properties of zirconia is investigated. Results show that the microstructure of M completely surrounded by N emerged in zirconia composites, and tetragonal phase is presented in all the sintered samples. The obtained zirconia ceramics with 15 wt. % N own a highly dense structure (~ 99.9 % relative density) and high flexural strength of 813.59 MPa wherein a 15 % increase in flexural strength compared to zirconia ceramics without adding N, but the fracture toughness of the composites just lightly decreases. The improved flexural strength of the composites is caused by the multiscale effect.