SUPERPLASTICITY OF CERAMICS

Superplastic elongation of fine-grained ceramics can be observed when some mechanical and microstructural requirements are satisfied at appropriate test conditions, temperature and strain rate. The phenomenon can be utilized in superplastic forming, solid-state bonding, sinter-forging, hot press, and hotisostatic pressing. Recent advances in ceramic processing brought about superplastic ZrO2 composites, covalent polycrystals, bioceramics, and nanocrystalline materials. Numerous works on superplasticity of ZrO2 ceramics revealed some characteristics, microstructural features, and possible mechanisms. Attempts to achieve high-strain rate superplasticity were performed by modifying the nature of the grain boundary.