Lifetime determination of tetragonal zirconia under static loading using the Constant Stress Rate method

Subcritical crack growth is a phenomenon which limits service time of a ceramic material. It is especially prevalent for oxides, because this phenomenon is attributed to the activity of water at the crack tip of the material and can be caused even by water present as a humidity in the air (Salem and Jenkins, 2002; Michalske and Freiman, 1983). It is very important to determine its lifetime at the setting loads with high probabilities of survival. The Constant Stress Rate method gives results that are sufficient for lifetime predictions. Estimations are based on n parameter which results from the slope of the strength vs. stress rate dependence. Only a conversion from dynamic to static conditions has to be done (Wojteczko et al., 2016). The attempts were made at different stress rates on sintered samples with pre-existing flaws and in two environments − air and water. Tetragonal zirconia was the tested material. Biaxial loading method was used for strength measurements. Microstructural and fractographic observations were made using the scanning electron microscope.