Mg-PSZ
Mg-PSZ is zirconia partially stabilized with MgO, sintered in the cubic phase field and aged to precipitate tetragonal particles, giving a coarse-grained microstructure with high fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance.
Reference datasheet — Mg-PSZ 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.
Mg-PSZ tempers and conditions
Mg-PSZ is supplied in one standard condition, TS.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Mg-PSZ is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MS | Maximum-strength grade | Coating |
STDDefault | Standard sintered + sub-eutectoid aged Mg-PSZ | Standard supply |
What is Mg-PSZ?
Mg-PSZ is zirconia partially stabilized with MgO, sintered in the cubic phase field and aged to precipitate tetragonal particles, giving a coarse-grained microstructure with high fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance. Engineers select it for wear and molten-metal contact parts, supplied as pressed and isostatically pressed blanks, rods, tubes and near-net injection-moulded shapes in STD, MS and TS conditions. Limits are an elastic modulus of 205 GPa, thermal conductivity of 2.8 W/m·K and a maximum service temperature of about 1000 °C; the coarse grain size caps the attainable surface finish and the material cannot be welded or conventionally machined after firing. Y-TZP is the nearest alternative where a finer, smoother surface is required. Mg-PSZ has a density of 5.75 g/cm³ (0.208 lb/in³), heavier than 60% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,700°C (4,892 °F). Mg-PSZ has a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), stronger than 71% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is Mg-PSZ used for?
- extrusion dies
- wire drawing guides
- molten metal handling components
- pump seals
- grinding media
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 88% of ceramic grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 10 MPa·√m (9.1 ksi·√in), better than 87% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 2.8 W/m·K (1.62 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of ceramic grades
Mg-PSZ properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical5
Mg-PSZ has a density of 5.75 g/cm³ (0.208 lb/in³), heavier than 60% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,700°C (4,892 °F).
Mechanical12
Mg-PSZ has a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), stronger than 71% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal5
Mg-PSZ is rated for continuous service to 1,000°C (1,832 °F). It conducts heat at 2.8 W/m·K (1.62 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 10.2 µm/m·K (5.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Mg-PSZ is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 10 kV/mm (254 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 Mg-PSZ takes about 120 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 51% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Mg-PSZ'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. Mg-PSZ is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Mg-PSZ
Is Mg-PSZ easy to machine?
Machine the green (white) body by turning and milling with carbide tooling and allow 20–25 % sintering shrinkage. After sintering only diamond grinding and lapping are possible; grind wet at low feed to avoid a transformed surface layer and microcracking.
Can Mg-PSZ be welded?
Not weldable; join to metals by press or shrink fit, active-metal brazing (Ti-Ag-Cu) or ceramic adhesive.
Can Mg-PSZ be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry or isostatic pressing, slip casting or ceramic injection moulding. Sinter at 1600–1800 °C in the cubic phase field, then age at about 1100 °C in the sub-eutectoid range to precipitate the tetragonal phase that provides toughness.
Mg-PSZ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MgOapprox. 8-10 mol% MgO stabilizer | 2.5 – 3.6 | 3 |
| HfO2Natural companion of zircon ore; usually counted within ZrO2 | 1 – 2.5 | 1.8 |
| SiO2impurity / sintering aid | 0 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Al2O3impurity / grain-boundary phase | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| ZrO2matrix (includes HfO2) | balance |
What surface finishes work on Mg-PSZ?
Diamond lapping and polishing reach Ra 0.05–0.2 µm; the coarse grain size keeps the attainable finish below that of Y-TZP. A post-grinding anneal at 800–1000 °C removes residual surface transformation stress.
How much does Mg-PSZ cost?
Mg-PSZ is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Mg-PSZ — frequently asked
What is Mg-PSZ used for?
Mg-PSZ is typically used for extrusion dies, wire drawing guides, molten metal handling components, pump seals and grinding media. In short: high-toughness coarse-grain zirconia; best thermal-shock zirconia; molten-metal contact grade.
What is the tensile strength of Mg-PSZ?
Mg-PSZ has a typical tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — stronger than 71% of ceramic grades.
Is Mg-PSZ easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Machine the green (white) body by turning and milling with carbide tooling and allow 20–25 % sintering shrinkage. After sintering only diamond grinding and lapping are possible; grind wet at low feed to avoid a transformed surface layer and microcracking.
Can Mg-PSZ be welded?
Not weldable; join to metals by press or shrink fit, active-metal brazing (Ti-Ag-Cu) or ceramic adhesive.
What surface finishes work on Mg-PSZ?
Diamond lapping and polishing reach Ra 0.05–0.2 µm; the coarse grain size keeps the attainable finish below that of Y-TZP. A post-grinding anneal at 800–1000 °C removes residual surface transformation stress.
Can Mg-PSZ be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry or isostatic pressing, slip casting or ceramic injection moulding. Sinter at 1600–1800 °C in the cubic phase field, then age at about 1100 °C in the sub-eutectoid range to precipitate the tetragonal phase that provides toughness.
What is the maximum service temperature of Mg-PSZ?
Mg-PSZ is rated for continuous use to about 1,000°C (1,832 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Mg-PSZ cost?
Mg-PSZ is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Nilcra Mg-PSZ (MS / TS grades) technical data — Morgan Advanced Materials (2020)
- Zirconia (ZrO2) material properties — CoorsTek (2022)
- Transformation Toughening of Ceramics (Mg-PSZ ageing behaviour) — CRC / J. Am. Ceram. Soc. review data (1989)
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.