The proposed material consists of zirconium dioxide crystallites of tetragonal
modification of acicular or platy form, having a size not exceeding 0.05 mm, oriented
parallel to their long axes and forming a rectangular lattice. Such a structure
of the material insures its increased resistance to the onset of cracking, this
promoting high physico-mechanical characteristics of the material. The material
is obtained under the conditions of lowered pressure by the method of melting in
a cold container with its horizontal moving relative to an inductor. The physico-mechanical
properties of the material make it possible to manufacture therefrom extremely
sharp scalpels, which ensure the blade service life of up to 60 operations on dense
tissues, the blades withstanding up to 10 resharpenings without changes in the
blade profile.
