Superplasticity of YTZP: New approach and application

The experimental data available in the literature on superplasticity in YSZ P will be presented and critically analyzed in terms of a threshold stress. A new application of the superplasticity has been developed based on the g rain boundary sliding, which is the macroscopic deformation mechanism of su perplasticity. This technique has been used to join pieces of the same grai n size and pieces with different grain sizes to produce a functionally grad ient multilayered ceramic composite. Results concerning joining of Y-TZP wi ll be also presented in this paper.