Transformation-induced plasticity in zirconia-based ceramics during in-situ microLaue with microcompression and heating: cyclic testing of C

Ceramic materials are typically elastic and brittle at room temperature, lacking ductility due to limited dislocation mobility. However, zirconia-based ceramics, especially those doped with ceria, can display plasticity via a martensitic phase transformation (tetragonal to monoclinic) similar to transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) in shape memory alloys. This offers significant strengthening potential, with some exhibiting around one percent plastic deformation prior to fracture and reduced defect sensitivity. Here, we employ Laue microdiffraction and in-situ compression of ceria-doped zirconia micropillars to study this phenomenon. By inducing through stress (tetragonal to monoclinic) and reversing the phase transformation (monoclinic to tetragonal), we aim to understand its mechanisms and assess phase recoverability by in-situ compression and heating cycles of ceria-doped zirconia micropillars.