Comparison between microwave and conventional sintering on the properties and microstructural evolution of tetragonal zirconia

In this research, the comparison between microwave sintering and conventional sintering on the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of 3 mol% yttria-stabilised zirconia were studied. Green bodies were compacted and sintered at various temperatures ranging from 1200 °C to 1500 °C. The results showed that microwave assisted sintering was beneficial in enhancing the densification and mechanical properties of zirconia, particularly when sintered at 1200 °C. It was revealed that as the sintering temperature was increased to 1400 °C and beyond, the grain size and mechanical properties for both microwave- and conventional-sintered ceramics were comparable thus suggesting that the sintering temperature where densification mechanism was activated, grain size was strongly influenced by the sintering temperature and not the sintering mode.