Ce-TZP
Ce-TZP is a tetragonal zirconia stabilized with 10–12 mol% ceria, which raises fracture toughness well above yttria-stabilized zirconia at the cost of hardness, making it the choice for maximum damage tolerance.
Reference datasheet — Ce-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 12CE condition
Ce-TZP tempers and conditions
Ce-TZP is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. 12CE 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10Ce-TZP | Pick when peak fracture toughness / damage tolerance matters more than strength or hardness; more transformable, so watch stability near room temperature. | 280 | 0.2 | 950 HV | 2 W/m·K | |
Hot isostatic pressed | Choose for the highest strength and finest surface finish in Ce-TZP (wire-drawing dies, precision wear parts) where porosity-initiated failure must be eliminated. | 430 | 0.2 | 1,130 HV | 3 W/m·K | |
12CEDefault 12Ce-TZP | Standard commercial Ce-TZP: best balance of ~550 MPa strength and 10–14 MPa·√m toughness with good phase stability. | 1,030 HV | 3 W/m·K | |||
Ce-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite | Alumina-dispersed Ce-TZP: restores hardness and doubles strength while keeping very high toughness — the grade used for hip joint heads and heavily loaded tooling. | 1,200 HV | 6 W/m·K |
What is Ce-TZP?
Ce-TZP is a tetragonal zirconia stabilized with 10–12 mol% ceria, which raises fracture toughness well above yttria-stabilized zirconia at the cost of hardness, making it the choice for maximum damage tolerance. It is supplied as sintered and HIP blanks and as layered ZTA/Ce-TZP composites for biomedical and impact-loaded parts. Density is 6.2 g/cm³, modulus 205 GPa, thermal conductivity 2.5 W/m·K and maximum service temperature 1000 °C; it must not be sintered in vacuum or reducing atmospheres, which reduce the ceria. Use 3Y-TZP where hardness and wear resistance matter more. Ce-TZP has a density of 6.2 g/cm³ (0.224 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,650°C (4,802 °F). Ce-TZP has a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi), stronger than 68% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is Ce-TZP used for?
- biomedical implants
- impact-resistant components
- layered ZTA/Ce-TZP composites
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 12 MPa·√m (10.9 ksi·√in), better than 93% 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
Ce-TZP properties
Typical room-temperature values for Ce-TZP-12CE; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical4
Ce-TZP has a density of 6.2 g/cm³ (0.224 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,650°C (4,802 °F).
Mechanical11
Ce-TZP has a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi), stronger than 68% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal5
Ce-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
Ce-TZP is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 12 kV/mm (304.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁸ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 88% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Ce-TZP takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Ce-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. Ce-TZP is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Ce-TZP
Is Ce-TZP easy to machine?
Green/bisque machine wherever possible; after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping or laser/ultrasonic machining — but Ce-TZP tolerates grinding far better than Y-TZP thanks to its high toughness.
Can Ce-TZP be welded?
Not weldable; join by active-metal brazing (Ti-containing AgCu), glass sealing or mechanical/shrink fits, allowing for the ~10.5 µm/m·K CTE mismatch with steels.
Can Ce-TZP be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by uniaxial/CIP pressing, slip or injection molding of granulate, then sintering at 1450–1550 °C in air; avoid reducing atmospheres and vacuum sintering, which reduce ceria and darken/destabilize the body.
Ce-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 |
|---|---|---|
| CeO2≈10–12 mol% CeO2 expressed in wt% | 13 – 17 | 16 |
| Al2O3sintering aid in monolithic grades; 20–30 vol% in Ce-TZP/A composite | 0 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| HfO2naturally present with zirconia | 1 – 2.5 | 1.8 |
| SiO2impurity | 0 – 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Fe2O3impurity | 0 – 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Na2Oimpurity | 0 – 0.05 | 0.01 |
| ZrO2balance, tetragonal phase | balance |
What surface finishes work on Ce-TZP?
Diamond lapping and polishing to Ra <0.05 µm; grinding-induced compressive surface stress from t→m transformation actually raises strength, and no LTD annealing is needed as with Y-TZP.
How much does Ce-TZP cost?
Ce-TZP is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Ce-TZP — frequently asked
What is Ce-TZP used for?
Ce-TZP is typically used for biomedical implants, impact-resistant components and layered ZTA/Ce-TZP composites. In short: highest-toughness zirconia; no hydrothermal ageing; damage-tolerant Y-TZP substitute.
What is the tensile strength of Ce-TZP?
Ce-TZP has a typical tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 68% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Ce-TZP easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades). Green/bisque machine wherever possible; after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping or laser/ultrasonic machining — but Ce-TZP tolerates grinding far better than Y-TZP thanks to its high toughness.
Can Ce-TZP be welded?
Not weldable; join by active-metal brazing (Ti-containing AgCu), glass sealing or mechanical/shrink fits, allowing for the ~10.5 µm/m·K CTE mismatch with steels.
What surface finishes work on Ce-TZP?
Diamond lapping and polishing to Ra <0.05 µm; grinding-induced compressive surface stress from t→m transformation actually raises strength, and no LTD annealing is needed as with Y-TZP.
Can Ce-TZP be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by uniaxial/CIP pressing, slip or injection molding of granulate, then sintering at 1450–1550 °C in air; avoid reducing atmospheres and vacuum sintering, which reduce ceria and darken/destabilize the body.
What is the maximum service temperature of Ce-TZP?
Ce-TZP is rated for continuous use to about 1,000°C (1,832 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Ce-TZP cost?
Ce-TZP is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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
- CEZ series ceria-stabilized zirconia powder data — Tosoh (2022)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Transformation toughening in Ce-TZP and Ce-TZP/Al2O3 composites (review chapters) — Journal of the American Ceramic Society / Elsevier (2010)
- Zirconia ceramic material properties (TZP grades) — CoorsTek / Kyocera (2023)
- ISO 13356 — Implants for surgery: ceramic materials based on yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (reference for TZP test methods) — ISO (2015)
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.