STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF IONIC MODIFICATION ON ENHANCEMENT OF THE STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF xZnO - (1-x)TiO2 CERAMICS

The paper presents the assessment results of the influence of ionic modification of the near-surface layers of composite ceramics based on titanates on changes in resistance to external mechanical influences. The method of irradiation with O⁺ ions with an energy of about 28 MeV was chosen as the main method for modification of composite ceramics; irradiation fluences were selected in the range from 10¹¹ to 10¹⁴ ion/cm². According to the data obtained, a change in the ratio of components during mixing leads to the formation of two-phase ceramics, in which the main phase is ZnTiO₃, and impurities in the form of ZnO and TiO₂ are also present, depending on the weight contributions of the initial components. It was determined that the phase composition alteration associated with an increase in the ZnTiO₃ phase in the composition results in hardness and cracking resistance growth, which is due to a combination of changes in phase composition and size effects. During experiments related to the ion modification of the studied xZnO - (1-x)TiO₂ ceramics, it was established that at irradiation fluences of 10¹¹–5·10¹² ion/cm², the formation of a strengthening effect of the near-surface layer, caused by the effect of ions on the crystal structure, and the associated effects of dislocation strengthening, is observed. At fluences above 5·10¹² ion/cm², a decrease in the degree of strengthening of ceramics, associated with an increase in the density of structural defects, their agglomeration and subsequent destabilization of the near-surface layer, which reduces resistance to external influences, including mechanical pressure, leading to crack formation, is observed.

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