Yttria-stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) is used in a variety of structural and biomedical applications due to its excellent mechanical properties and its high biocompability. These properties are achieved by stabilizing the tetragonal Zirconia phase down to room temperature by doping with other metal oxides like Y2O3.
This research investigates a newly developed material for commercial use by Treibacher Industrie AG (AuerTec® 2Y-40A). The Yttria content is reduced to 2 mol% which leads to a superior fracture toughness compared to Zirconia materials with higher Yttria content. The material is investigated in regards to its microstructure, mechanical and chemical properties. A sintering temperature of 1350°C is sufficient to reach a dense sintered body with a mean grain size of 0,25 µm and a 4-point-bending strength of 1200 MPa. Further, the Auertec® 2Y-40A shows an outstanding fracture toughness of 17 MPa m1/2 determined by indentation fracture method. These characteristics make the ceramic suitable for demanding applications in industrial fields, cutting tools and consumer goods.