FEATURES OF THE PHASE COMPOSITION AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF CERAMIC MATERIALS BASED ON THE ZrO2–TiO2 SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30857/2786-5371.2026.4.8Keywords:
phase formation, ceramics, microstructure, solid-state interaction, heat treatmentAbstract
Purpose. To establish the features of phase formation and microstructure development in ceramic compositions of the ZrO₂–TiO₂ system under high-temperature synthesis conditions, taking into account the phase transformations of the initial components and their interactions.
Methodology. Monoclinic ZrO2 with a purity of 99.99% and TiO2 with a purity of 99.65% were used to prepare the experimental samples. The starting components were mixed in ratios corresponding to the stoichiometric compositions of ZrTiO4 and ZrTi2O6. After preparing the batch mixture, the specimens were formed by double-sided uniaxial pressing at 120 MPa. Heat treatment was carried out at 1300 °C with a heating rate of 8 °C/min, a holding time of 5 min at the maximum temperature, followed by slow cooling in the furnace. The microstructure was examined by electron microscopy, and the phase composition was determined by X-ray diffraction.
Findings. The phase formation and microstructural features of materials based on the ZrO2–TiO2 system with ZrTiO4 and ZrTi2O6 compositions, synthesized at 1300 °C under rapid-firing conditions, were investigated. It was established that variations in the ratio of the starting components affect the phase composition of the materials and promote the formation of ZrTiO4-based phases that partially remain in a metastable state upon cooling to room temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of the initial TiO2 and ZrO2 oxides, as well as the ZrTiO4 (zirconium titanate) phase, in the samples. Electron microscopy revealed the formation of a characteristic microstructure associated with solid-state interactions in the ZrO2–TiO2 system.
Originality. The phase formation behavior of ZrO2–TiO2 compositions under rapid-firing conditions was established, and the effect of the starting-component ratio on the phase composition and microstructure of the materials was demonstrated.
Practical value. The results obtained can be used to optimize the composition and processing parameters for producing ceramic materials in the ZrO2–TiO2 system.
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