Microstructural evolution and interfacial reactions between Ti and ZrO2/CaTiO3 composites

Various proportions of ZrO2/CaTiO3 powders were mixed and hot pressed at 1500°C/30 min for Ti casting. The hot‐pressed ZrO2/CaTiO3 composites were reacted with pure Ti at 1700°C/10 min in Ar. The interfacial reaction between Ti and ZrO2/CaTiO3 composites was investigated through X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The ZrO2/CaTiO3 composites with less than 10 vol.%, CaTiO3, and a minor amount of residual TiO2 were found. When the content of ZrO2 was increased to larger than 10 vol.%, two Ca2Zr5Ti2O16 and CaZrTi2O7 phases appeared in the composites. The amount of CaTiO3 and CaZrTi2O7 in the composites gradually decreased as the amount of ZrO2 increased. When Ti came in contact with ZrO2/CaTiO3 composites with less than 10 vol.% ZrO2, the resulting eutectic reaction produced a liquid phase and induced melting. When ZrO2 was increased to more than 30 vol.% in the composites, Ca2Zr5Ti2O16 and CaZrTi2O7 changed completely to CaZrO3, Ti2O, CaO, and ZrO2. With more than 30 vol.% ZrO2, no other reaction phases occurred in the Ti side after contact with the ZrO2/CaTiO3 composites, which is conducive for producing ceramic composites for Ti casting applications.