Mechanical properties and short-term in-vivo evaluation of yttrium-oxide-partially-stabilized zirconia

Yttrium-oxide-partially-stabilized zirconia (YPSZ) belongs to a new class of ceramics exhibiting an improved toughness when compared to alumina. The toughening mechanism is related to a martensitic-like transformation of tetragonal metastable grains into a monoclinic state occurring at the crack tip. Specific tests showed that YPSZ exhibited a high bending strength (900-1200 MPa), a low Young's modulus (200 GPa), and a high toughness (KIC = 9-10 MN/m3/2). Its average grain size of 0.5 microns allows a surface roughness as low as 0.008 microns. Sterilization or aging in saline solution at room temperature for 100 days did not affect the toughness of this material. Cylindrical YPSZ samples, manufactured by cold isostatic pressing and sintering, were implanted in the paraspinal muscles in the rat up to 12 weeks. The tissue reaction was evaluated with reference to alumina (ISO requirements) by means of quantitative histomorphometry. No significant differences were found between YPSZ and alumina for both the membrane thickness and cell distributions surrounding the implants.