Elastic behaviour of zirconium titanate-zirconia bulk composite materials at room and high temperature

Zirconium titanate-zirconia composites have potential for applications involving variations of temperature. Elastic characterization is necessary to evaluate stresses developed in materials which may be used in these kinds of applications. In this work, Youngʹs and shear modulus and Poissonʹs ratio of two zirconium titanate-zirconia bulk composites (Z(Y)T70 and Z(Y)T50) have been determined at room temperature by the Impulse Excitation Technique (IET). Furthermore, Youngʹs modulus (E) has been determined at high temperature (up to 1400 °C) for both composites. Youngʹs modulus of Z(Y)T70 composite decreases ≈6% between room temperature and 400 °C due to the presence of zirconia. From 400 to 1400 °C, the decrease of E (≈14%) is due to the presence of zirconium titanate. Youngʹs modulus behaviour at high temperature of Z(Y)T50 composite is determined by the degree of microcrack healing, which depends on the maximum temperature reached.