Mechanical properties of ytterbia stabilized zirconia ceramics (Yb-TZP) fabricated from powders prepared by co-precipitation method

2.0, 2.4, 2.6, 3.0 and 3.5 mol% Yb2O3-doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Yb-TZP) were fabricated and their mechanical properties [three-points bending strength (σf), Vickers hardness (Hv) and fracture toughness (K1C)] were measured. The value of σf was the highest for the 2.6 mol% Yb2O3-doped sample. The Hv-value increased and the K1C-value decreased, as the Yb2O3 content increased. The comparison of these mechanical properties with those of the corresponding Y2O3-doped zirconia (Y-TZP) revealed the excellence of Yb-TZP, though slight.