Highly Tough and Hard Zirconia-Based Composites Derived from 3Y-TZP and 12Ce-TZP Powders by Co-Doping Approach

Authors

  • Arife Yurdakul Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kutahya Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey
  • Koray Kamburoglu Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Rafet Kayis Faculty of Engineering, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Alanya/Antalya, Turkey
  • Ercan Sener Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Rafet Kayis Faculty of Engineering, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Alanya/Antalya, Turkey
  • Orkun Tunckan Department of Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskisehir, 26480, Turkey
  • Hilmi Yurdakul Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kutahya Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey

Abstract

Due to their superior physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, 3 moles % yttrium stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (3Y-TZP) ceramics are used in dental applications. However, the safe usage of 3Y-TZP is constrained in dental applications by low (or moderate) fracture toughness. Therefore, this research aims to enhance the fracture toughness of 3Y-TZP ceramics by adding 12 mole % cerium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (12Ce-TZP) counterparts. Here, specimens were densified by pressureless sintering at 1500-1550ºC and 1-2 hours. Relative density (%), Vickers hardness (Hv), indentation fracture toughness (Kıc), and flexural strength (σ) were measured after sintering. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were carried out to clarify the microstructure. Based on overall results, highly tough and hard-sintered composites with sufficient strength can be effortlessly produced by a co-doping approach from different zirconia powders. Specifically, the 25% Y-TZP/75% Ce-TZP composites @1550ºC-1h exhibited Hv: 9.57±0.1 GPa, Kıc:18.26±0.1 MPa.m1/2, and σ: 421±9.2 MPa values. These data presented herein pave the way for producing tailorable structure-property relationships in various ZrO2 ceramic applications, e.g., dental and cutting tools.

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Published

2026-03-20

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles