Microstructure and bending strength of 3Y-TZP ceramics by liquid-phase sintering with CAS addition

3Y-TZP have been fabricated via liquid phase sintering at 1300–1450 °C by adding different weight ratios of CAS glass (CaO–Al2O3-SiO2) additive. Sintering behaviour, microstructure and flexural strength as a function of sintering temperature and sintering aid were investigated. The experiment results showed that with 1 wt.% CAS additive and sintering at 1400 °C, the bending strength of 3Y-TZP is 950±40 MPa, and the grain size of 3Y-TZP is very fine, about 0.2 μm. It was found that the fine grain size is the main reason of the high bending strength of the materials.