Yttria/ceria stabilized zirconia composites: evaluation of microstructural, mechanical and color properties for biomedical applications

Abstract

[Excerpt] 3-mol% Yttria-Stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (3Y-TZP), a ceramic biomaterial, has been widely used in the dentistry field due to its biocompatibility, tooth-like color and mechanical properties [1]. Despite these advantages, its physical and mechanical properties tend to degrade as a result of a low-temperature aging process induced by its sensitivity to low-temperature degradation (LTD) when it is in contact with water that is already at human body temperature [2]. Because of this, many studies have been performed aiming at avoiding this phenomenon by replacing 3Y-TZP by 12 mol% ceria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (12Ce-TZP). Nevertheless, compared to 3Y-TZP, 12Ce-TZP has lower strength which is partly related to its larger grain size [3]. [...]