| 摘要 |
Disclosed is a zirconia sintered body which has excellent light transmission properties and excellent mechanical strength at the same time. Specifically, a zirconia sintered body, which has excellent light transmission properties, namely a linear transmittance of not less than 50% for a 1 mm-thick sample at a visible light wavelength for measurement of 600 nm and high strength, namely an average bending strength of not less than 300 MPa, is obtained by subjecting a primary zirconia sintered body that has an average crystal grain size of not more than 1 µm and a relative density of not less than 92% and is composed only of cubic crystal phases to a HIP treatment at 1250-1600°C (inclusive) at not less than 50 MPa. The primary sintered body is obtained by maintaining a zirconia powder compact that contains 7-30 mol% (inclusive) of yttria at 1100-1300°C (inclusive) for not less than 5 hours, or by quickly heating the zirconia powder compact at a rate of not less than 500°C/hour. |
