This study analyzes the mechanical properties, including the attrition rate, of 50 μm size yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) beads with different microstructures and high-energy milling conditions. The yttria distribution in the grain and grainboundary of the fully sintered beads relates closely to Vickers hardness and the attrition rate of the YSZ beads. Grain size, fractured surfaces, and yttrium distribution are analyzed by electronic microscopes. For standardization and a reliable comparison of the attrition rate of zirconia beads with different conditions, Zr content in milled ceramic powder is analyzed and calculated by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer(XRF) instead of directly measuring the weight change of milled YSZ beads. The beads with small grain sizes sintered at lower temperature exhibit a higher Vickers hardness and lower attrition rate. The attrition rate of 50 μm YSZ beads is measured and compared with the various materials properties of ceramic powders used for high-energy milling. The attrition rate of beads appears to be closely related to the Vickers hardness of ceramic materials used for milling, and demonstrates more than a 10 times higher attrition rate with Alumina(Hv ~1650) powder than BaTiO3 powder (Hv ~315).

Particle size reduction is an important step in many technological operations. The process itself is defined as the mechanical breakdown of solids into smaller particles to increase the surface area and induce defects in solids, which are needed for subsequent operations such as chemical reactions. To fabricate nano-sized particles, several tens to hundreds of micron size ceramic beads, formed through high energy milling process, are required. To minimize the contamination effects during highenergy milling, the mechanical properties of zirconia beads are very important. Generally, the mechanical properties of Y2O3 stabilized tetragonal zirconia beads are closely related to the mechanism of phase change from tetragonal to monoclinic phase via external mechanical forces. Therefore, Y2O3 distribution in the sintered zirconia beads must also be closely related with the mechanical properties of the beads. In this work, commercially available 100μm-size beads are analyzed from the point of view of microstructure, composition homogeneity (especially for Y2O3), mechanical properties, and attrition rate.