Study on the structure and mechanical properties of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia during cyclic heating and cooling

The structure and mechanical properties of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (MgO-PSZ) ceramic were investigated under a vacuum atmosphere during cyclic heating and cooling from room temperature to 1723 K. It is found that Mg ions in ZrO2 lattice diffused to grain boundaries during cyclic heating and cooling. With increasing the number of cycles, the amount of m-phase of MgO-PSZ increased and the bending strength of MgO-PSZ decreased. The phase transformation in MgO-PSZ between t-phase and m-phase occurred with a large volume change during cyclic heating and cooling, which led to the increase of monoclinic phase and the decrease of bending strength of MgO-PSZ.