DEPOSITION OF ZIRCONIUM MONOXIDE GLOMERULI BY LASER-ABLATION

Zirconia is evermore in demand as a thermal barrier coating (TBC) for energy economy and metal protection. Several methods are in use to pro duce the coatings, including sol-gel, CVD and PVD, however laser ablat ion, has not been notoriously reported. The present work presents the use of a N-2-SF6 pulsed laser beam, focused (6 J/cm(2)) on a metallic zirconium target in a reactor with low pressures of oxygen or helium. Sparks were observed in oxygen atmosphere, which denoted oxidation of laser ablated zirconium. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and op tical interferometric microscopy, identifying small agglomerates of Zr O (cubic phase) studied the crystallographic structure and morphology of the obtained particles. The pyrophorous oxidation phenomenon of abl ated Zr droplets is described and interpreted by thermochemical simula tions, and the deposited morphology is characterized.