Abstract
Yttria stabilized zirconia 3Y – TZP nanopowders (10–30nm) are prepared through direct precursor calcination of mixed zirconium oxychloride and yttrium nitrate solutions at 600°C for 2h. Cuboid(50×25×20mm3) zirconia blanks are fabricated through centrifuge casting and followed by sintering at 1350°C for 2h. Sintered zirconia blanks exhibit 24% volume shrinkage and 98% relative density with average grain size of 250nm. Vickers hardness and indented fracture toughness of sintered blanks are measured as 13.5GPa and 3.5MPa.m1/2, respectively. Bioactivity of nanostructured zirconia originates after four weeks incubation in simulated body fluid solution. An optimum time is required for the deposition of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on stress-induced nucleation site of nanostructured zirconia.
•A new technique has been proposed to prepare 10–30nm 3Y – TZP nanopowders.•Cuboid zirconia blanks are fabricated through centrifuge casting.•Average grain size varies from 100 to 400nm after sintering at 1350°C for 2h.•Hardness and fracture toughness are found as 13.5GPa and 3.5MPa.m1/2, respectively.•Nanoscale hydroxyapatite deposits on stress-induced nucleation site of ZrO2 after optimum time.
