Obtaining Al2O3/Ti/TiO2-Functional Material Trough Air Oxidation of Al2O3/Ti Composite

Abstract

Al2O3/Ti/TiO2-functional materials with compositional gradient were fabricated through air oxidation of Al2O3/Ti ceramics. To obtain the desired functional material, the Al2O3/Ti ceramic was subjected to a heat treatment for 24 hours at temperatures of 500°C, using an electric furnace with air atmosphere. After ceramic oxidation, observations in the transversal area of the microstructure of the new material obtained show a thin film of about 50 microns thick of a combination of constituents that with the aid of EDS analysis were identified as Al2O3/TiO2. In addition to these observations, microhardness measurements performed on the transversal area of the sample by its surface and towards to the center of this, indicate a surface hardness higher than in the center of the sample, where it was identified by EDS an Al2O3/Ti compound. This led to conclude that it was obtained at the end of processing an Al2O3/Ti/TiO2-functional material with compositional gradient.