Zirconia ceramics with additions of Alumina for advanced tribological and biomedical applications

The results of an investigation on slip cast and sintered Y2O3 (3 wt%)- stabilized ZrO2 with additions of 5, 10, 15 wt% Al2O3 are reported. The surface roughness, porosity and density of the samples were measured. The hardness HRc and Hv, fracture toughness K1C, and friction coefficients were also measured using standard methods. The structural properties of the samples were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The surface topography was evaluated by means of Chromatic White Light Interferometry using MicroSpy® Topo of FRT Rauheit Kontur before and after tribological tests. The phase and chemical composition were analyzed by X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Results show that the addition of Al2O3 into YSZ ceramics in the range of 5-10% allows the mechanical and tribological characteristics of the material that can be applied in different mechanical machines for different metallurgical processes to be improved, as well as in chemical engineering or medicine.