SEM and TEM analysis of composite of ZrO2-Ti system

Abstract 3Y-ZrO2-Ti composites obtained by slip casting method were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the Vickers hardness was measured. The experiments show the complex microstructure of composites. The tetragonal zirconium dioxide (t-ZrO2) and monoclinic zirconium dioxide (m-ZrO2) as a composite matrix were detected at XRD analysis. SEM observations revealed that Ti -rich phase are uniform distributed in composites. Moreover, the large and very fine precipitations were found. The very fine Ti rich precipitations were located at ZrO2 grain boundaries as well as in the triple-points. TEM experiments confirmed that in the sintered composites 3Y-ZrO2 – 10%Ti the uniaxial ZrO2 grains (100–600 nm), fine monoclinic martensitic plates and fine round monoclinic particles (20–40 nm) of ZrTiO2 phase were exist. The complex microstructures of 3Y-ZrO2-Ti composites have a high hardness as a result of existing fine ZrTiO2 and other Ti oxides precipitations.