Effect of hydrothermal influence on properties and microstructure of bioinert ceramic Yb–TZP

Abstract

It is found that a ceramic based on zirconia modified with oxides of yttrium and ytterbium (Yb–TZP) maintains high mechanical properties after hydrothermal treatment, equivalent to 20 years of residence of an implant in vivo. The study of the surface of ceramic samples before and after hydrothermal treatment by atomic force microscopy is carried out. The change in the grain composition of the microstructure of this ceramic is shown, defined by subsurface change in the phase composition caused by martensitic transformation of zirconia.