Abstract
The effect of aliovalent dopants, $ Nb_2O_5$ and MnO, on the phase stability of 12 mol% ceria partially-stabilized zirconia (Ce-TZP) polycrystals was studied. Both dopants (MnO and $ Nb_2O_5$) significantly increased the stability of the tetragonal zirconia phase (Mb temperature lower than liquid nitrogen temperature). The enhancement of the stability of the tetragonal phase in Ce-TZP doped with 1 mol% of Mno(Ce-TZP/MnO) andCe-TZP doped with 1 mol% of $ Nb_2O_5$(Ce-TZP/$ Nb_2O_5$) were explained by the significant reduction of the driving force, -${\Delta}$Gchem, for the tetragonal-to-mono-clinic phase transformation caused by the addition of MnO and $ Nb_2O_5$. The enhanced stability of the tetragonal phase in the Ce-TZP and Al2O3 composite (Ce-TZP/$Al_2O_3$) is believed to be caused by smaller grain size, moderate reduction in the chemical driving force and increase in the strain energy barrier to the transformation. Mechanical properties of the Ce-TZP and the Ce-TZP/$Al_2O_3$ with (i) the same grain size and (ii) the same Mb temperature were examined by measuring stress-strain behavior in 3 point bending. The Ce-TZP/$Al_2O_3$ composite doped with 1.3w% MnO (Ce-TZP/$Al_2O_3$/MnO), which had the same grain size as the Ce-TZP and De-TZP/$Al_2O_3$ showed more transformation plasticity than either the Ce-TZP or the Ce-TZP/$Al_2O_3$ composite. The Ce-TZP wihch had the same Mb temperature as that of the Ce-TZP/$Al_2O_3$/MnO did not show any transformation plasticity.