Effect of grain size and amount of zirconia on the physical and mechanical properties and the wear resistance of zirconia-toughened alumina

The effects of the ZrO2 content and the particle size of ZrO2 powders on the microstructure, phase composition, physical and mechanical properties, and the abrasion wear resistance of advanced Al2O3 ceramics and zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) composites containing 0 to 30 mass% yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) were investigated. The composite with a ZTA content of 30 mass% of ZrO2 exhibited the greatest resistance to abrasion wear. α-Al2O3 reflex broadening (hkl = 113) as a result of the microstresses in the Al2O3 crystal lattice during sandblasting decreased with increasing ZrO2 amount, where the ZrO2 particles located along the grain boundaries of Al2O3, hindering their growth and deformation. The use of nanodispersed ZrO2 powder produced by the plasma chemical technique led to a 1.5-fold increase in wear resistance in the resultant ZTA ceramic.