INFLUENCE OF CALCINATION TEMPERATURE ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF A GEL-DERIVED AND SINTERED 3-MOL-PERCENT Y-TZP MATERIAL

A pure coprecipitated 3 mol% Y-TZP powder was subjected to two calcina tion temperatures, 600 degrees and 1000 degrees C, prior to compaction and sintering, Significant differences in the initial sintering behav ior were observed, The lower temperature calcined powder exhibited abn ormal grain growth. The resultant mechanical properties mirrored the m icrostructure with the lower temperature calcined material having lowe r flexural strength, Hardness measurements of the two sintered bodies revealed significant differences in the two phases of the lower temper ature calcined material, Differences in reactivity of the two powders after calcination are suggested as the basis for the difference in mic rostructure and resultant mechanical properties.