Metastability of the martensitic transformation in a 12 mol% ceria-zirconia alloy

Observations of the grinding-induced transformation in single-phase Ce-TZP materials, referred to in an earlier paper, are presented. Two techniques were used to grind the surface: by hand in a slurry of abrasive particles and with a high-speed diamond-impregnated wheel. Significant differences in X-ray diffraction profiles between the two grinding methods were observed. Limited monoclinic ZrO2 was detected on the machine-ground surface, along with the reversal of the tetragonal ZrO2 (200) peak intensities. On the hand-ground surface, considerable monoclinic phase was observed. Transmission electron microscope studies at various depths below the ground surface were undertaken to identify the differences between these surfaces and fractured surfaces. A simple explanation is proposed for the reversal of the tetragonal peak intensities