Grinding-Induced Texture in Ferroelastic Tetragonal Zirconia

Ceria- and yttria-doped tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia ceramics were ground at temperatures as high as 1100°C. X-ray diffraction revealed that the intensity ratio I ₍₀₀₂₎/ I ₍₂₀₀₎ increased (to as high as ∼4.5) compared with that from the as-sintered surfaces (∼0.55). The enhancement in I ₍₀₀₂₎/ I ₍₂₀₀₎ at temperatures well above the m → t transition temperature shows that it is not related to transformation, reversible or otherwise, but can be explained by ferroelastic domain switching.