Influence of Ion Treatment Modes on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Zirconia Ceramics

Abstract

The article considers the influence of the treatment modes with N2+ and Ar+ ions beams on the physical and mechanical properties of zirconia ceramics. Surface modification of zirconia ceramics was performed using two modes of ion treatment—pulsed and continuous. The pulsed mode of treatment with N2+ ions was realized at an accelerating voltage of 250–300 kV, current density j = 150–200 A/cm2, and energy density W = (3.5 and 5) ± 5% J/cm2. The continuous mode of treatment with Ar+ ions was realized at an accelerating voltage of 30 kV and an ion current density of 300 and 500 μA/cm2. The fluence of the Ar+ ion beam varied from 1016 to 1018 cm–2. It is established that the pulsed mode of ion treatment leads to the melting and recrystallization of the surface of ceramics. It is shown that this treatment leads to a violation of the oxygen stoichiometry in ceramics and, as a result, there is an appearance of electrical conductivity in the nearsurface layers; the layers of zirconia ceramics become conductive. It is established that the continuous mode of ion treatment does not lead to the melting and recrystallization of the ceramic surface but is accompanied by its slight etching. It is shown that, under the action of continuous ion treatment, the microhardness increases (by 14%). Hardening of the surface layers of ceramics is observed at a depth that exceeds the average projected range of Ar+ ion by 103 times.