BENALCAZAR JALKH, E.B.COELHO, P.G.WITEK, L.BERGAMO, E.T.P.LOPES, A.C.O.MONTEIRO, K.N.CESAR, P.F.GENOVA, L.A.LISBOA-FILHO, P.N.ABREU, J.L.B.CAMPOS, T.M.B.CANTEENWALA, A.BONFANTE, E.A.2022-03-152022-03-152021BENALCAZAR JALKH, E.B.; COELHO, P.G.; WITEK, L.; BERGAMO, E.T.P.; LOPES, A.C.O.; MONTEIRO, K.N.; CESAR, P.F.; GENOVA, L.A.; LISBOA-FILHO, P.N.; ABREU, J.L.B.; CAMPOS, T.M.B.; CANTEENWALA, A.; BONFANTE, E.A. Nanoscale physico-mechanical properties of an aging resistant ZTA composite. <b>Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials</b>, v. 123, p. 1-8, 2021. DOI: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104690">10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104690</a>. Disponível em: http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/32790.1751-6161http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/32790Objective: To characterize the effects of aging on the nanomechanical properties and 3D surface topographical parameters of an experimental Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) composite compared to its respective individual counterpart materials. Methods: Disk-shaped specimens comprised of three material groups were processed: 1) ZTA 70/30 (70% alumina reinforced with 30% second-generation 3Y-TZP); 2) Zpex (Second-generation 3Y-TZP), and; 3) Al2O3 (High purity Alumina) (n = 10/material, 12 × 1 mm). After synthesis, ceramic powders were pressed, the green-body samples were sintered and polished. Nanoindentation testing was performed to record elastic modulus (E) and hardness (H). Interferometry was utilized to assess 3D surface roughness parameters (Sa, Sq), while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) assessed the crystalline content and microstructure. All tests were performed before and after simulated aging (134°C, 2.2 bar, 20 h). Statistical analyses were performed using linear mixed-model and least square difference pos-hoc tests (α = 5%). Results: XRD spectra indicated increase of monoclinic peaks for Zpex (~18%) relative to ZTA 70/30 (~2.5%) after aging. Additionally, aging did not affect the surface roughness parameters of ZTA 70/30 and Al2O3, although a significant increase in Sa was recorded for Zpex following aging (~90 nm) (p < 0.001). Al2O3 yielded the highest H and E values (H:21 GPa, E: 254 GPa), followed by ZTA 70/30 (H: 13 GPa, E: 214 GPa) and Zpex (H:11 GPa, E: 167 GPa), all significantly different (p < 0.03). Conclusion: ZTA 70/30 and Al2O3 presented high hydrothermal stability with respect to all evaluated variables, where artificial aging significantly increased the monoclinic content and surface roughness of Zpex.1-8openAccesszirconium oxidesaluminium oxidesmechanical propertiestopographymicrostructureindentation testingnanostructuresArtigo de periódico12310.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.1046900000-0002-5172-5082https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5172-508246.7973.67