EFFECT OF PHASE-TRANSFORMATION INDUCED PLASTICITY ON THE EROSION OF TZP CERAMICS

Erosion experiments were carried out on a group of TZP (tetragonal zir conia polycrystalline) ceramic specimens by angular SiO2 particles at ambient and elevated temperatures. When the erodents impacted at high impingement angle, the stress on the surface layer would lead to the t ransformation of zirconia from the tetragonal to the monoclinic phase. At ambient temperature, phase transformation induced plasticity incre ased the erosion resistance at high impingement angle, the erosion pea k occurred at 60 degrees impingement angle. Phase transformation induc ed plasticity had little effect on the erosion behavior at elevated te mperature.