The unaxial tensile deformation behavior of 3 mol%Y2O3-tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP, grains <0.3 micrometer) was studied at temperatures up to 1500 C in
ambient atmosphere. The tensile specimens which were elongated at constant displacement rates from 1.1 x 10-4 s-1 - 5.5 x 10-4 S-1 at 1450C exhibited the unusually large deformation (over 120% by nominal strain). The superplastically
deformed specimens retained a bending strength of 976 MPa at room temperature.
Steady creep rates measured at a constant load in the range of relatively small strains were described by a stress exponent,n ,of 2 and by an activation energy of 586 40 kJ/mol. Large deformations during the accelerating creep were accompanied
by extensive formation of cavities