The investigation of metal-ceramic interfaces has significance both in fundamental science and in many technological applications. The atomistic configuration of metal-ceramic interfaces, and the orientation relationship of the contiguous phases affect the mechanical and electronic properties as well as the long-term thermal and mechanical stability of metal-ceramic systems. However, the transient and equilibrium atomic configurations in many metal-ceramic interfaces are not yet fully understood.
The goal of the current study is to investigate the kinetics of equilibration in metal-ceramic systems. Polycrystalline Al2O3 implanted with Pt ions is being investigated. The Pt-Al2O3 system was chosen due to the fact that in addition to being convenient metal-ceramic model system, it plays an important role in magnetic device fabrication and in the microelectronics industry [1,2]. Consistent with our prior findings [3,4] the implantation conditions used yielded amorphous alumina, with the peak Pt concentration coinciding with the center of this amorphized region. The implanted specimens were annealed at 1600°C for various periods of time. The annealing promoted ripening and equilibration of the Pt inclusions, as well as recrystallization of the amorphous alumina and polycrystalline alumina grain growth.
It was found, that the Al2O3 grains grow, consuming the amorphous alumina. Both occlusion and drag of the ripened Pt particles by the growing Al2O3 grains were detected. These findings enable investigation of metastable, Al2O3 growth-front dependent Pt- Al2O3 orientation relationships and parallel investigation of the Pt equilibration process. The orientation-dependent equilibration of the Pt inclusions will be shown, and the kinetics of the equilibration process will be discussed.
References:
1. S. Ramanathan, B. M. Clemens, P. C. McIntyre, and U. Dahmen, Philosophical Magazine A 81 (8), 2073 (2001).
2. L. Kornblum, J. A. Rothschild, Y. Kauffmann, R. Brener, and M. Eizenberg, Physical Review B 84 (15) (2011).
3. M. K. Santala, V. Radmilovic, R. Giulian, M. C. Ridgway, R. Gronsky, and A. M. Glaeser, Acta Materialia 59 (12), 4761 (2011).
4. M. K. Santala, V. Radmilovic, R. Giulian, M. C. Ridgway, A. M. Glaeser, and R. Gronsky, Scripta Materialia 62 (4), 187 (2010).