Common available grade of zirconia
Yttrium oxide partially stabilized Zirconia (Y-PSZ)
Yttrium oxide partially stabilized zirconia (Y-PSZ) is doped with yttrium oxide (Y2O3) as a stabilizer, which enhances the internal grain structure and enhances the strength of the material from a monoclinic crystal to a tetragonal phase. It is a fine grain material with the highest bending strength of all ceramic materials. It has a very high impact resistance and wear resistance, while providing a low thermal conductivity, often making it a suitable material for alternative metals. The addition of yttrium oxide (Yttria) enables the material to transform and harden, which is responsible for the high toughness. When the material is stressed, the crystal structure changes from the tetragonal phase to a monoclinic phase becomes more dynamic, resulting in a 3% 5% increase in the highly localized volume. Increasing volume exposes the crack to compression, thus reducing its ability to grow and propagate to more cracks. This property explains the low sensitivity of the material to stress fatigue and the high flexural strength.
Magnesium oxide partially stabilized zirconia (MSZ)
Magnesium oxide (MgO) doping with zirconia also causes compression of the internal matrix, however, this structure is cubic. M-PSZ has better temperature and humidity resistance, since it is not affected by phase migration. M-PSZ maintains its strength even in a humid high-temperature environment where YSZ mechanical properties begin to deteriorate.
