Microstructural effects on the resistance to cavitation erosion of ZrO2 ceramics in water

The cavitation erosion behavior of three commercial ZrO2 ceramics and one Al2O3 ceramic as reference was investigated using a laboratory test with vibration-induced cavitation following the pattern of the ASTM standard G32-92. The purpose of this paper was to explore microstructural effects on the resistance to cavitation erosion. Wear mechanisms of the commercial ZrO2 ceramics as well as reference Al2O3 were identified and discussed from incubation time to erosion period. The ZrO2 ceramics, ZN101B and FZMK showed excellent resistance to cavitation erosion due to their fine grain sizes and only few microstructural defects. Transformation toughening can play an important role in the performance of partially stabilized ZrO2 ceramics hence the effect of phase transformation (from tetragonal to monoclinic structure) on the resistance to cavitation erosion was also considered.