LIGHT-TRANSMITTING SINTERED ZIRCONIA COMPACT, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, AND USE THEREOF

摘要

A special sintering technique such as HIP sintering is provided which is necessary for the production of a sintered zirconia compact having a high density and high strength and excellent in light-transmitting feeling. A light-transmitting sintered zirconia compact characterized by comprising zirconia containing 2-4 mol% yttria as a stabilizer and having an alumina content of 0.2 wt.% or lower and by having a relative density of 99.8% or higher and a total light transmittance as measured at a thickness of 1.0 mm of 35% or higher is obtained by ordinary-pressure sintering. It is preferred to sinter, at ordinary pressure in the air, a powder which contains 0-0.2 wt.% alumina having a particle diameter of 0.01-0.5 µm and has a BET specific surface area of 5-16 m2/g, an average particle diameter of 0.3-0.7 µm, and a sintering shrinkage rate in ordinary-pressure sintering (??/?T: g/cm3 °C) of 0.0125-0.0160.