3Y-TZP Zirconia
ASTM F1873 · ISO 13356
Fully dense fine-grain zirconia stabilized with 3 mol% yttria giving very high flexural strength and fracture toughness via transformation toughening; used where metal-free strength and wear resistance are needed.
Reference datasheet — 3Y-TZP Zirconia is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the 3Y-TZP condition
3Y-TZP Zirconia tempers and conditions
3Y-TZP Zirconia is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. 3Y-TZP is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3Y-TZPDefault 3 mol% yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal, pressed & sintered | Default high-strength/high-toughness structural zirconia for wear parts, ferrules, plungers and dental blanks. | 350 | 1,250 HV | 3 W/m·K | ||
Magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (TTZ), coarse-grain cubic matrix | Pick for thermal-shock-prone, large or hot-metal-contact parts (extrusion dies, valve seats, ladle nozzles) where LTD immunity beats peak strength. | 1,150 HV | 3 W/m·K | |||
ESD-safe zirconia | Use for semiconductor/electronics handling tools, test sockets and nozzles where charge must bleed off (10⁶–10⁹ Ω·cm) without particle generation. | 1,200 HV | 3 W/m·K | |||
hot isostatically pressed, medical/implant grade (ISO 13356) | Choose when pore-free maximum strength and biomedical certification are required (femoral heads, high-load micro parts). | 1,300 HV | — | |||
ATZ | Pick when higher hardness, stiffness and better hydrothermal ageing resistance than plain 3Y-TZP are wanted at slightly lower toughness. | 1,400 HV | 6 W/m·K |
What is 3Y-TZP Zirconia?
Fully dense fine-grain zirconia stabilized with 3 mol% yttria giving very high flexural strength and fracture toughness via transformation toughening; used where metal-free strength and wear resistance are needed. 3Y-TZP Zirconia has a density of 6.05 g/cm³ (0.219 lb/in³), heavier than 66% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,700°C (4,892 °F). 3Y-TZP Zirconia has a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), stronger than 71% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 3Y-TZP Zirconia used for?
- dental crowns/bridges
- hip ball heads
- precision valve components
- cutting tool inserts
- sensor housings
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 97% of ceramic grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 88% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 2.5 W/m·K (1.44 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of ceramic grades
3Y-TZP Zirconia properties
Typical room-temperature values for 3Y-TZP Zirconia-3Y-TZP; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical4
3Y-TZP Zirconia has a density of 6.05 g/cm³ (0.219 lb/in³), heavier than 66% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,700°C (4,892 °F).
Mechanical12
3Y-TZP Zirconia has a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), stronger than 71% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal5
3Y-TZP Zirconia is rated for continuous service to 1,000°C (1,832 °F). It conducts heat at 2.5 W/m·K (1.44 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
3Y-TZP Zirconia is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 12 kV/mm (304.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 88% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 3Y-TZP Zirconia takes about 120 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 51% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
3Y-TZP Zirconia's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. 3Y-TZP Zirconia is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 3Y-TZP Zirconia
Is 3Y-TZP Zirconia easy to machine?
Green/bisque machine with carbide tooling allowing ~20–25 % sintering shrinkage; after firing only diamond grinding, lapping or laser/ultrasonic machining works.
Can 3Y-TZP Zirconia be welded?
Not weldable — join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu-Ti), glass sealing, shrink fit or adhesive bonding.
Can 3Y-TZP Zirconia be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by uniaxial/cold-isostatic pressing of spray-dried granulate, ceramic injection molding, slip/tape casting or DLP 3D printing, then sintered 1350–1550 °C in air.
3Y-TZP Zirconia chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Y2O3≈3 mol% stabilizer | 4.5 – 6 | 5.2 |
| HfO2inherent to zircon feedstock; counted with ZrO2 in ISO 13356 | 1 – 2.5 | 1.8 |
| Al2O3sintering aid / LTD suppressor | 0 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| SiO2impurity | 0 – 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Fe2O3impurity | 0 – 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Na2Oimpurity | 0 – 0.04 | 0.01 |
| ZrO2balance, includes naturally associated HfO2 | ≥ 92 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on 3Y-TZP Zirconia?
Diamond lapping/polishing to Ra <0.02 µm; sandblasting or coarse grinding induces surface t→m transformation — a stress-relief anneal near 1000 °C restores the phase state.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to 3Y-TZP Zirconia in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- F1873
- ISO
- 13356
How much does 3Y-TZP Zirconia cost?
3Y-TZP Zirconia is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
3Y-TZP Zirconia — frequently asked
What is 3Y-TZP Zirconia used for?
3Y-TZP Zirconia is typically used for dental crowns/bridges, hip ball heads, precision valve components, cutting tool inserts and sensor housings. In short: toughest structural ceramic; metal-free wear surface; diamond grinding only.
What is the tensile strength of 3Y-TZP Zirconia?
3Y-TZP Zirconia has a typical tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — stronger than 71% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 3Y-TZP Zirconia easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green/bisque machine with carbide tooling allowing ~20–25 % sintering shrinkage; after firing only diamond grinding, lapping or laser/ultrasonic machining works.
Can 3Y-TZP Zirconia be welded?
Not weldable — join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu-Ti), glass sealing, shrink fit or adhesive bonding.
What surface finishes work on 3Y-TZP Zirconia?
Diamond lapping/polishing to Ra <0.02 µm; sandblasting or coarse grinding induces surface t→m transformation — a stress-relief anneal near 1000 °C restores the phase state.
Can 3Y-TZP Zirconia be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by uniaxial/cold-isostatic pressing of spray-dried granulate, ceramic injection molding, slip/tape casting or DLP 3D printing, then sintered 1350–1550 °C in air.
What is the maximum service temperature of 3Y-TZP Zirconia?
3Y-TZP Zirconia is rated for continuous use to about 1,000°C (1,832 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 3Y-TZP Zirconia cost?
3Y-TZP Zirconia is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ISO 13356 — Implants for surgery: ceramic materials based on yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP) — ISO (2015)
- ASTM F1873 — Standard Specification for High-Purity Dense Yttria Tetragonal Zirconium Oxide Polycrystal (Y-TZP) for Surgical Implant Applications — ASTM International (2020)
- ISO 6872 — Dentistry: Ceramic materials — ISO (2024)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4 — Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Zirconia (YTZP, Mg-PSZ, ATZ) technical ceramic property sheets — CoorsTek / Kyocera / CeramTec (2023)
- TZ series zirconia powder technical bulletin (TZ-3Y, TZ-3YS-E) — Tosoh Corporation (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.