Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
ZrO2 coatings were obtained by the the alkoxide route and deposited onto stainless steel using the dip coating technique. The starting solutions were prepared by mixing zirconium tetrabutoxide, isopropanol, acetylacetone. The water content for the hydrolitic reaction arose from the atmosphere moisture.
Useful information for the structural organization of the zirconia/steel interphase is given by XPS analysis.
It is found that during firing treatment, the main components (Fe, Cr, Ni) of the stainless steel diffuse into the ceramic coating. XPS data allow to describe the chemical composition variation from the bulk substrate to the outer coating surface.