Deformation mechanisms in yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia single crystals

This work attempts to give a unified picture of the microscopic mechanisms which control the plastic deformation in yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia single crystals, particularly for the soft orientation (uniaxial compression along the [1 (1) over bar2] crystallographic axis) at low, intermediate and high temperatures while also reviewing and updating the existing data for different yttria contents (9.4-32 mol.%). The controlling deformation mechanisms are: internal friction within the crystal lattice (Peierls mechanism at low temperatures), pinning of dislocations by localized obstacles and long-range interaction between dislocations (intermediate temperatures) and dislocation viscous glide and climb (recovery creep) at higher temperatures. New aspects of the Portevin-le Chatelier phenomenon during viscous glide, due to the pinning and unpinning of dislocations from their defect clouds (yttrium substitutional atoms), are included.