Mechanical Characteristics and Crack-Healing of ZIRCONIA(ZrO₂) Composite Ceramics with SiC and TiO₂

This study evaluated the mechanical properties and crack-healing abilities of zirconia composite ceramics. The six kinds of specimens used were: partially stabilized zirconia (Z) and five zirconia composite (ZS, ZST1, ZST2, ZST3, and ZST5) with SiC and TiO₂. There was not a large difference between the Vickers hardness of the six types of zirconia ceramics. The bending strength of the ZS specimen degraded rapidly, but the zirconia specimens with TiO₂(ZST1, ZST2, ZST3, and ZST5) showed improved strength. Therefore, it was determined that the bending strength is affected by the crystallization, which is due to the addition of SiC and TiO₂. From the crack-healing conditions having the highest bending strength, monolithic zirconia retained its cracks, while the specimens of four types with SiC healed their cracks