Ferroelastic and plastic deformation of t′-zirconia single crystals

Polydomain tetragonal (t ') zirconia was deformed in compression along a < 100 > orientation at various temperatures between 500 degrees and 1400 degreesC. The stress-strain curves showed a plateau corresponding to ferroelastic deformation, followed by plastic deformation at a higher yield stress level. In both ranges, the strain-rate sensitivity of the stress was measured by stress-relaxation tests. The microstructure of the tetragonal domains after ferroelastic deformation and the dislocation substructure were studied by transmission electron microscopy in a high-voltage electron microscope. As expected, ferroelastic deformation suppressed the tetragonal variant with its c-axis parallel to the loading direction. The dislocation structure consisted of intersecting dislocations on different slip systems with strongly bowed-out segments. The microprocesses of deformation are discussed here by comparing the deformation data with those of cubic zirconia deformed in the same orientation and based on the observed microstructure. The particular microstructure of t ' zirconia seems to prevent recovery, so that the high flow stress of similar to 700 MPa is preserved up to 1400 degreesC.