A MICRO-RAMAN STUDY OF PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS OF ZIRCONIA CRYSTALS UPON INTRODUCTION OF A VICKERS INDENTOR

摘要

A micro-Raman study of zirconia crystals and ceramics performed with the use of argon, He Ne, and semiconductor lasers is described. The results of the study are shown to depend on the wavelength of the radiation source used. It is shown that argon radiation determines only the monoclinic phase formed upon indentation of low-strength crystals of partially stabilized zirconia, which is not observed in the case of tests of high-strength crystals. The indentation behavior of crystals of partially stabilized zirconia is shown to depend on the tetragonal-monoclinic phase transformation and the rotation of typical ferroelastic domains.