Local fracture toughness measurements in polycrystalline cubic zirconia using micro-cantilever bending tests

•The micro-cantilever method is used and studied for fracture toughness measurements with notched specimen prepared by focused ion beam into a polycrystalline cubic zirconia.•Results obtained are coherent with literature toughness acquired by macroscopic tests.•Specimens are prepared to test specific crystallographic planes, and no significant difference is noticed between the three tested families {100}, {110} and {111}.•The method shows its attractiveness as local mechanical test for cracked materials as irradiated nuclear fuel.