Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Recent experimental work on the yield and flow behavior of both single crystal and polycrystalline transformation toughened zirconia is presented. In addition, related work by other researchers is reviewed. The resulting picture is used to assess the relative plastic deformation contributions of phase transformations, dislocation activity, and grain boundary sliding. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of stabilizer chemistry, grain size, temperature, strain rate, and state of stress. The results are shown to reflect the strong role of shear stresses in selecting, and controlling the operation of, each deformation mode.