Shock Response and Structure Of Yttria-Doped Tetragonal Zirconia

A new technology of ceramics manufacturing is proposed. The technology is based on zirconium dioxide, partially stabilized by yttria, obtained by a heterophased chemical deposition method. The main properties of the manufactured ceramics have been characterized by us: density of 5.79 g$*cm^{-3}$, bending strength of $\sim$800 MPa, crack resistance of $\sim$8 MPa$*m^{0.5}$, microhardness of $\sim$15 GPa. The microstructure and phase composition have been also investigated. The average size of sintered ceramic grains was 0.6 micron. It was established that the ceramics consisted of 93 mass \% tetragonal and 7 mass \% monoclinic phase and had X-ray density of 6.18 g$*cm^{-3}$. We have obtained longitudinal and transversal sonic speed relation to the frequency range of 1.25 -- 10 MHz. The measurements have shown dispersion occurrence. At dynamic loading the PSZD ceramics had shown high efficiency in Hugoniot elastic limit and spall strength.