Effect of ball to powder ratio on the ZrO2 phase transformations during milling

Effect of milling time and ball to powder weight ratio (BPR) were investigated on the phase transformation of monoclinic zirconia during high energy ball milling. Degree of phase transformation was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and quantitative phase analysis (Rietveld refinement). Morphology and microstructure were monitored by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Higher milling time and BPR led to the more transformation, smaller mean grain size and larger strain. There was approximately 80% tetragonal zirconia in the 80 h milled powder with the BPR 25:1. A nanostructure powder with the mean grain size less than 10 nm was obtained in both BPRs that were in consistence with TEM images. Stress and strain inducing in the lattice of m-ZrO2 was proposed as the main mechanism of its transformation.