Study on the structure and properties of ZrO2 buffer layers on stainless steel by XRD, IR and AES

ZrO2 buffer layers were successfully dip-coated on stainless steel(SS) foil s via a sol-gel process, using 30 mol% SiO2 as a stabilizing agent and zirc onyl chloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2.8H(2)O) as the precursor The buffer layer was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform-infrare d spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microsco py. The introduction of SiO2 retarded ZrO2 phase transformation from tetrag onal to monoclinic. The normal emittances of the Au/ZrO2/SS foils before an d after heat-treatment in air at 850 degreesC are 0.038 and 0.043, respecti vely. The ZrO2 buffer layer effectively suppresses interdiffusion between t he gold film and the SS substrate at high temperature. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.