Composition, surface structure, and thermal behavior of ZrO2 + TiO2/Ti and ZrO2 + CeOx + TiO2 composites formed by plasma-electrolytic oxidation

Specific surface structures of ZrO₂ + TiO₂ (I) and ZrO₂ +CeO_x + TiO₂ (II) coatings on titanium before and after annealing at 850°C for 24 h in air are studied. Whiskers are found on the surface of type-I coatings before annealing, and perfectly edged crystals composed of TiO₂ and ZrO₂ oxides are found upon annealing. Pores in both coatings have a multilevel structure. In the case of type-I coatings, orifices of pores are covered with titanium. In type-II coatings, pore orifices contain titanium, zirconium, and oxygen. Oxygen deficiency implies that titanium and zirconium are present in pore orifices in metallic state. In type-II coatings, the surface distribution of cerium is heterogeneous. Mechanical treatment of the annealed coatings causes their exfoliation from the substrate metal. In the case of both coatings, the exfoliating surfaces are composed of TiO₂ blocks containing excess oxygen.