Effect of phase transformations on the fracture toughness of t′ yttria stabilized zirconia

Monolithic ZrO2-8 mol% YO1.5 (YSZ) with t′ tetragonal phase was found to have high indentation fracture toughness of ∼91 J m−2. The effect of transformation of t′ phase by cubic zirconia (c) precipitation on fracture toughness was studied. Fracture toughness decreased rapidly at the onset of precipitation, by a factor of ∼3 at 1150 °C after 12 h and ∼2.6 at 1250 °C after 24 h. Ferroelasticity is the toughening mechanism at 1150 °C and up to 96 h at 1250 °C. Ferroelastic toughening was analyzed in terms of tetragonality of the major phase as well as microstructural changes such as coarsening, increasing cubic phase fraction and residual stresses. Transformation toughening was observed after 192 h at 1250 °C, with an increase in toughness by a factor of ∼2.5. The results show that the toughness of initially t′ YSZ thermal barrier coatings would evolve during service due to phase transformations. The toughening mechanism may change from ferroelasticity to transformation toughening with TBC aging.