Abstract
Several kinds of zirconia toughened alumina ceramics (ZTA ceramics) with the different amount of monoclinic zirconia were produced by a slip casting and a normal sintering using fine powders. Grinding force was adopted as a criterion of grindarbility, and fracture toughness, bending strength and tetragonal zirconia contents were also measured as properties related to toughened mechanisms. The results are summarized as follows:
1) ZTA ceramics with the addition 10vol% of monoclinic zirconia indicated the maximum fracture toughness and tetragonal zirconia content.
2) The grinding force was the maximum value at the addition 10vol% of monoclinic zirconia. The grindarbility of ZTA ceramics was dominated by fracture toughness.
3) The toughened mechanism of ZTA ceramics in this study was closely connected with tetragonal zirconia contents.
