Influence of diesel engine combustion on the rupture strength of partially stabilized zirconia

Engine exposure of commercially available and developmental ceramic materials in diesel engines was initiated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 1985. The objective of this effort was to detemine whether long-term exposure to the engine combustion environment would generate a change in mechanical properties. This determination was accomplished by exposing candidate structural ceramics to actual engine operating conditions and then examining them for changes by various nondestructive and destructive methods. Two types of partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) were selected for this study because PSZ has received considerable attention as a candidate material for various hot-section components in diesel engines. The results are discussed.