Mechanical properties, translucency, and low temperature degradation (LTD) of yttria (3–6 mol%) stabilized zirconia

The mechanical properties (hardness and biaxial flexural strength), optical properties (translucency and gloss), and low temperature degradation (LTD) of 3–6 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia have been investigated. The specimens were prepared by conventional solid-state sintering at 1400 °C. The mechanical and optical properties were evaluated for sintered and polished specimens. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used, respectively, for structural and microstructural investigation. LTD was determined by XRD analysis of the samples aged in a hydrothermal autoclave at 134 °C for 5–108 h. The mechanical and optical properties are found to be microstructure sensitive. The LTD, due to tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation, decreases with increasing Y2O3 content. The mechanical strength, translucency, and LTD are the lowest for 6 mol% Y2O3 stabilized zirconia.