Yttrium oxide partially stabilized zirconia

Christel, P., Meunier, A., Heller, M., Torre, J.P., and Peille, C.N. (1989) Mechanical properties and short-term in-vivo evaluation of yttrium oxide-partially-stabilized zirconia. J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 23 (1), 45-61. 

Yttrium oxide partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ) has been advocated as an alternative to alumina (Christel et al., 1989 Cales and Stefani, 1995). TTiis class of ceramic has a higher toughness than alumina since it can be transformation toughened and is used in bulk form or as a coating (Filiaggi et al., 1996a, 1996b). There are currently approximately 150,000 zirconia components in clinical use (Cales and Stefani, 1995). 

Oxygen sensors, in low volume use as part of a closed loop emission control system for automotive applications since 1977, have seen wide-spread use starting with the 1981 model year. At the present time, a partially stabilized zirconia electrolyte using yttrium oxide as the stabilizer appears to be the most common choice for this application. 

J. Zhu, J. G. Ommen, and L. Lefferts. Reaction scheme of partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over yttrium-stabilized zirconia. J. Catalysis 225, 388-397. 

Single oxide ceramics, e.g. aluminium oxide (AI2O3, alumina) and zirconium dioxide (Zr02, zirconia), are bioceramics of an inert nature. An inert ceramic does not form a bonding to bone similar to those bioceramics of bioactive nature. Alumina bioceramics are in the pure aluminium oxide form, whereas zirconia bioceramics are partially stabilized by additional oxides, e.g. yttrium oxide, calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. 

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