Microstructural bulk property relationships during the thermal degradation of Mg-PSZ

Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia (Mg-PSZ), a tough, industrially important ceramic, has been analyzed primarily by flexural strength for long term ageing behaviour at 1000 deg C. and undergoes deleterious decomposition. This work describes the change in microstructural properties (transformable tetragonal, polished monoclinic, and grain boundary phases) with respect to toughness and hardness over a series of time periods at 1000 deg. C. Most degradation of this ceramic occurs within the first 200 hours. 19 refs., 4 figs