Mechanical Properties of ZrO<sub>2</sub> (Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>)-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanocomposites with Addition of Hydroxyapatite Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

TZP-3Y20A/HA composites with addition of different volume fraction of hydroxyapatite (HA) were fabricated successfully using spark plasma sintering (SPS). The densification behavior and mechanical properties of composites are investigated as a function of sintering temperature and HA content respectively. The density of TZP-3Y20A composite increases steadily with temperature and a maximum value of 97.8% is obtained after sintering at 1400°C. Sintering the TZP-3Y20A/HA composites at 1400°C led to the decomposition of HA in the samples. Flexural strength, fracture toughness and Vickers hardness values increase with increasing sintering temperature, show decrease trend with increasing of HA content at the same temperature. They compared well with densities obtained at different sintering temperature. The maximum flexural strength, fracture toughness and Vickers hardness of 967.1 MPa, 5.27 MPam1/2 and 13.26 GPa were achieved for TZP-3Y20A composite respectively. Flexural strength, fracture toughness and Vickers hardness values of TZP-3Y20A/HA composite fell within the value range of dense HA and of TZP-3Y20A composite.