An oscillatory pressure sintering of zirconia powder: Densification trajectories and mechanical properties

The densification trajectories and mechanical properties of zirconia ceramics obtained by oscillatory pressure sintering ( OPS ) process were investigated, during the sintering process an oscillatory pressure was applied at three stages. Current results indicated that at intermediate stage the oscillatory pressure revealed a favorable improvement of mechanical properties compared with conventional hot pressing ( HP ) and pressureless sintering ( PS ) procedures, while the enhancement was not obvious at initial stage. When the oscillatory pressure was applied at final stage, the OPS specimens exhibited the highest bending strength and hardness of 1455 ± 99 MP a and 16.6 ± 0.31 GP a compared with the PS and HP specimens. Considering the high elastic modulus and Moiré patterns observed in the OPS specimen, the oscillatory pressure applied at intermediate and final stages was detected to facilitate the sliding of grain boundary, plastic deformation of monolithic grains, the removal of pores and the strengthening of atomic bonds.