LASER-INDUCED SURFACE MODIFICATIONS ON ZRO2 CERAMICS

Zirconia is widely used as a solid electrolyte due to its high ionic c onductivity and as a biocompatible material, and tailoring its propert ies is of great importance. In the present paper, experimental results are presented on modifications of surface properties of ZrO2 ceramics doped with 3% of Y2O3 exposed to radiation of either an excimer KrF ( lambda = 248 nm) or ArF laser (lambda = 248 nm), pulse duration of 15- 20 ns in air, The modification of porosity of irradiated areas and its diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) are studied as a function of laser beam parameters. The morphology of laser treated zirconia ceramics alo ng with its microhardness and roughness are shown to depend significan tly on the laser fluence. The catalytic activity of laser treated zirc onia ceramics towards the electroless deposition of Cu and Ni is analy zed with respect to DRS modifications.