The solid solubility limit of TiO2 in 3Y-TZP studied by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra of tetragonal zirconia solid solutions have been studied for the ZrO2-Y2O3-TiO2 system. A Linear relationship between the frequency of the Raman lines associated to the Zr-O-I and ZrOII stretching modes, as a function of the TiO2 content seems to exist. The constancy in the frequency of the two Raman modes beyond a determined TiO2 concentration was taken to establish the solid solubility limit of TiO2 into tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) which, on the other hand, was in close agreement with that obtained by precision lattice parameter measurements. The influence of the TiO2 addition on the Zr-O-I and Zr-O-II bond lengths in 3Y-TZP is also reported. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.