Crack behavior of surface strengthened Zirconia-Alumina composite during Indentation

Abstract

ZTA tubes were prepared by centrifugal casting and sintered at $1600^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs. The ZTA tubes were machined into specimens of $3{\times}4{\times}40$ mm. Molten Soda lime glass (SLG) was penetrated into the surface of ZTA at an optimized condition of 1500℃ for the holding time of 5 h and furnace cooled. The extra glass on the surface was removed using a resin bonded diamond wheel. The glass penetrated samples were tested for their flexural strength using four point bend test. Vickers Indentation cracks were made on the glass penetrated surface at different loads of 9.8 N, 49 N, 98 N and 196 N. The residual compression on the surface enhanced the flexural strength and crack arrest behaviour remarkably. This was attributed to the thermoelastic mismatch between the glass and ZTA matrix during cooling.