High Temperature Deformation of Fine-Grained Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Reinforced with Al ₂O ₃ Platelets

(Received 6 February 1995, revised 20 June 1995, accepted 10 July 1995)

Abstract
3 mol% Y ₂O ₃-stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals (Y-TZP) reinforced with 15% vol. Al ₂O ₃ platelets have been deformed in compression at constant strain rates between 10 ^-5 and  s ^-1 and temperatures between 1250 and 1400  C. The composites have been found to behave in a similar way to monolithic Y-TZP. The strain rate controlling mechanism is characterized by a stress exponent n of 2, the deformation being achieved by grain boundary sliding. No increase in the creep resistance due to platelet-reinforcement was found because of the high ductility of the zirconia matrix.