Effect of ball milling on properties and consolidation of nanostructured ZrO2 by high-frequency induction heated sintering

ZrO2 powders were high-energy ball milled for various durations and consolidated using the high-frequency induction heated sintering (HFIHS). The effect of milling on the sintering behavior and crystallite size ZrO2 powders were evaluated. A nanostructured dense ZrO2 compact with a relative density of up to 96% was readily obtained within 1 min. The ball milling effectively refined the crystallite structure of ZrO2 powders and facilitated the subsequent consolidation. The sinter-onset temperature was reduced appreciably by the prior milling for 10 hrs. Accordingly, the relative density of ZrO2 compact increased as the milling time increases. The microhardness and fracture toughness of sintered ZrO2 increased as the density increases.