Scratch Damage in Zirconia Ceramics

Published

October 25, 1999

Author(s)

S K. Lee, Rajan Tandon, M Readey, Brian R. Lawn

Abstract

Scratch damage modes in zirconia-based ceramics, Mg-PSZ, T-TZP and Ce-TZP are investigated. Precursor indentation tests with a tungsten carbide sphere foreshadow the nature of damage: in Mg-PSZ - extensive quasi-plastic deformation in the region outside and beneath the contact; in Y-TZP - less plastic deformation beneath the contact but incipient cone cracking in the region of tension outside the contact; in Ce-TZP - intermediate behavior. Scratch testing is carried out using a conical diamond indenter. In all materials the damage mode changes from smooth plastic deformation to limited cracking with increasing scratch load: in Mg-PSZ, plastic deformation is predominant at lower loads, with microcracking at higher loads; in Y-TZP, plastic deformation is predominant over the range of the test loads - macrocracks initiate only at relatively high loads, but penetrate to a relatively large depth; again Ce-TZP shows intermediate behavior, but with cracking patterns closer to that of Mg-PSZ. Bending tests on specimens subjected to scratch damage indicate a relatively high damage tolerance in the Mg-PSZ and Ce-TZP; Y-TZP shows the highest initial strength, but suffers relatively large strength loss above the critical load for cracking. Implications concerning relative merits of each zirconia type for wear properties, contact fatigue, and machining damage are briefly discussed.

Citation

American Ceramic Society Bulletin

Volume

83

Issue

6

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

contact, quasi-plastic deformation, scratch damage, zirconia ceramics

Citation

Lee, S. , Tandon, R. , Readey, M. and Lawn, B. (1999), Scratch Damage in Zirconia Ceramics, American Ceramic Society Bulletin, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=850023 (Accessed May 17, 2024)