Ceramic of colored zirconia

Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) ceramics have applications in many areas, from complex components to the functions used in jewelery and watch making to structural ceramics that are extremely resistant and resistant to extreme environments. In the case of watchmaking and jewelry, mechanical and optical properties are essential to ensure the creation of a functional and desirable product. The ability to color the ceramic without compromising the mechanical properties is particularly important.

Why zirconia?

Stabilized zirconia has unique physicochemical, mechanical and electrical properties, which make it an extraordinary ceramic material that is of great interest for a large number of applications. and industries.

Pure zirconia can exist in one of three states as a function of temperature ¹ (Figure 1). Zirconia exists in its monoclinic phase at room temperature, but at a temperature greater than 1,175 ° C, it is transformed into a tetragonal phase.

The transformation is a modified feature that offers high component resistance, flexural strength, exceptional wear resistance and excellent durability. These highly desirable properties mean that the tetragonal phase has many useful applications and that it is often used for structural ceramics in physically demanding applications. If the temperature exceeds 2370 ° C, the zirconia is transformed into its cubic state.