Determination of fracture toughness of Y-TZP ceramics

The goal of this study is to determine the fracture toughness of 2Y-TZP and 2.5Y-TZP ceramics by single-edge V-notched beam (SEVNB) method and single-edge notched beam (SENB) method. The errors of fracture toughness values tested by SENB are also evaluated. The actual fracture toughness values obtained by SEVNB method are 6.4 ± 0.1 and 5.3 ± 0.1 MPa m1/2 for 2Y-TZP and 2.5Y-TZP, respectively. After SENB method testing, the phase transformability (t-ZrO2 → m-ZrO2) on fractured surface is higher than that of SEVNB method testing. The relationship of fracture toughness values between by SEVNB and by SENB method is established.