Comparison between microwave and conventional sintering on the properties and microstructural evolution of tetragonal zirconia

• Main Authors: Ramesh, Singh, Zulkifli, Nurin Wahidah Mohd, Tan, Chou Yong, Wong, Yew Hoong, Tarlochan, Faris, Ramesh, Subramaniam, Teng, W.D., Sopyan, Iis, Bang, Le Thi, Sarhan, Ahmed Aly Diaa Mohammed
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2018
• Subjects: QC Physics; TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/20932/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.02.086

In this research, the comparison between microwave sintering and conventional sintering on the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of 3 mol% yttria-stabilised zirconia were studied. Green bodies were compacted and sintered at various temperatures ranging from 1200 °C to 1500 °C. The results showed that microwave assisted sintering was beneficial in enhancing the densification and mechanical properties of zirconia, particularly when sintered at 1200 °C. It was revealed that as the sintering temperature was increased to 1400 °C and beyond, the grain size and mechanical properties for both microwave- and conventional-sintered ceramics were comparable thus suggesting that the sintering temperature where densification mechanism was activated, grain size was strongly influenced by the sintering temperature and not the sintering mode.