3Y-TZP
ASTM F1873 · ISO 13356
3Y-TZP is a fine-grained tetragonal zirconia polycrystal stabilized with about 3 mol% yttria; transformation toughening gives it the highest strength and fracture toughness among the oxide ceramics, and it is the standard dental and biomedical zirconia (ASTM F1873).
Reference datasheet — 3Y-TZP 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 Sintered condition
3Y-TZP tempers and conditions
3Y-TZP is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. Sintered is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Translucent dental 3Y-TZP (high-purity, low-alumina, ISO 6872 Class 5) | Use the high-purity, fine-grained, low-alumina translucent version for dental crowns and bridges to ISO 6872 Class 5; strength is slightly below the industrial grades. | 400 | 0.2 | 1,250 HV | 3 W/m·K | |
Alumina-doped 3Y-TZP | Pick when parts see steam sterilisation, hot water or humid heat: the ≈0.25 % Al₂O₃ addition suppresses low-temperature degradation of the tetragonal phase. | 420 | 0.2 | 1,300 HV | 3 W/m·K | |
SinteredDefault Pressed & sintered 3Y-TZP (standard technical grade) | Use this dry-pressed or cold-isostatically pressed and pressureless sintered general industrial grade for pump plungers, wire-drawing dies, cutting blades and structural parts. | 1,250 HV | 3 W/m·K | |||
Hot isostatic pressed | Choose hot isostatically pressed stock with near-zero residual porosity for high-reliability medical parts such as hip joint ball heads and implants under ISO 13356. | 1,300 HV | — |
What is 3Y-TZP?
3Y-TZP is a fine-grained tetragonal zirconia polycrystal stabilized with about 3 mol% yttria; transformation toughening gives it the highest strength and fracture toughness among the oxide ceramics, and it is the standard dental and biomedical zirconia (ASTM F1873). Engineers select it for wear and load-bearing parts, supplied as sintered or HIP blanks, pre-sintered white bodies and dental mill blanks. Density is 6.05 g/cm³, modulus 210 GPa, thermal conductivity 2.5 W/m·K and maximum service temperature 1000 °C; the tetragonal phase can age hydrothermally, and Ce-TZP is the alternative when damage tolerance outranks hardness. 3Y-TZP 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 has a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi), stronger than 74% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 3Y-TZP used for?
- dental crowns/bridges
- hip joint heads
- cutting blades
- precision valve components
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 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 3Y-TZP-Sintered; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical5
3Y-TZP 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 has a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi), stronger than 74% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal5
3Y-TZP 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 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 15 kV/mm (381 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 88% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 3Y-TZP takes about 120 MJ of energy and emits 10 kg of CO₂ — more than 51% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
3Y-TZP's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% 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 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 3Y-TZP
Is 3Y-TZP easy to machine?
Machine in the green or bisque (white body) state with carbide tooling, where cutting is easy, and allow about 20–25% sintering shrinkage on all dimensions. After sintering only diamond grinding, ultrasonic or laser machining is practical.
Can 3Y-TZP be welded?
Not fusion weldable. Join to metals by active brazing (Ti-containing Ag-Cu-Ti fillers), glass sealing, or mechanical/adhesive interference fits.
Can 3Y-TZP be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry pressing, cold isostatic pressing, slip casting, tape casting, ceramic injection moulding (CIM) and photopolymer 3D printing. Sinter at 1350–1550 °C in air at ambient pressure, followed by HIP where full density is required.
3Y-TZP 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% | 4.5 – 6 | 5.2 |
| HfO2naturally present in zircon ore, not added separately | 1 – 3 | 2 |
| Al2O3sintering/hydrothermal-aging aid; <0.05 in translucent dental grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| SiO2impurity limit | 0 – 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fe2O3impurity limit | 0 – 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Na2Oimpurity limit | 0 – 0.04 | 0.02 |
| ZrO2includes natural HfO2; usually reported as ZrO2+HfO2 | ≥ 92 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on 3Y-TZP?
Diamond lapping and polishing reach mirror finishes below Ra 0.01 µm. Grit blasting induces a surface t→m transformation that raises compressive stress but can initiate ageing; colouring oxides can be pre-mixed into the powder for tinted bodies.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to 3Y-TZP in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- F1873
- ISO
- 13356
How much does 3Y-TZP cost?
3Y-TZP 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 — frequently asked
What is 3Y-TZP used for?
3Y-TZP is typically used for dental crowns/bridges, hip joint heads, cutting blades and precision valve components. In short: toughest oxide ceramic; standard dental zirconia; transformation-toughened structural grade.
What is the tensile strength of 3Y-TZP?
3Y-TZP has a typical tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — stronger than 74% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is 3Y-TZP easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades). Machine in the green or bisque (white body) state with carbide tooling, where cutting is easy, and allow about 20–25% sintering shrinkage on all dimensions. After sintering only diamond grinding, ultrasonic or laser machining is practical.
Can 3Y-TZP be welded?
Not fusion weldable. Join to metals by active brazing (Ti-containing Ag-Cu-Ti fillers), glass sealing, or mechanical/adhesive interference fits.
What surface finishes work on 3Y-TZP?
Diamond lapping and polishing reach mirror finishes below Ra 0.01 µm. Grit blasting induces a surface t→m transformation that raises compressive stress but can initiate ageing; colouring oxides can be pre-mixed into the powder for tinted bodies.
Can 3Y-TZP be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry pressing, cold isostatic pressing, slip casting, tape casting, ceramic injection moulding (CIM) and photopolymer 3D printing. Sinter at 1350–1550 °C in air at ambient pressure, followed by HIP where full density is required.
What is the maximum service temperature of 3Y-TZP?
3Y-TZP 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 cost?
3Y-TZP 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 (2020)
- ISO 6872 Dentistry — Ceramic materials — ISO (2015)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Zirconia (YZ / ZR-Series) technical ceramic datasheets — CoorsTek / Kyocera (2023)
- TZ-3Y / TZ-3YS-E / TZ-3YB-E zirconia powder data — 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.