Experimental analysis and finite element modeling of the piston-on-three balls testing of Y-TZP ceramic

Abstract

Abstract The objectives of this study were to characterize and evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of an experimental zirconia for dental application and compare the biaxial flexural strength results with the finite element simulation (FEM). Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramic samples were sintered at 1475 °C/2 h and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, relative density, flexural strength using piston-on-three balls (P-3B) test and Young’s modulus. From the flexural strength results, numerical simulations were performed using Abaqus software. The complete model used 70216 elements, considering the components of the test. The results indicated full densification of sintered samples, ZrO2-tetragonal and ZrO2-cubic as crystalline phases, and average grain size of 0.6±0.2 μm. Mechanical characterization of sintered samples indicated Young’s modulus of 195±4 GPa, flexural strength of 1191±9 MPa and Weibull modulus m=16.3. FEM simulation indicated a flexural strength close to 1100 MPa, with a difference lower than 7% in relation to the experimental results. The results were compared associating the physical and mechanical properties of Y-TZP with its intrinsic phenomena such as tgm transformation and ferroelastic domain.

Keywords

• Y-TZP ceramics
• mechanical properties
• flexural strength
• piston-on-three balls (P-3B) test
• FEM simulation
• toughening mechanisms