A STRUCTURAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY OF TITANIUM OXIDE THIN FILMS

This study investigates the interaction between titanium and oxygen to develop interferential thin oxide films. Specifically, we focus on the properties of titanium, particularly its unique behavior compared to zirconium regarding oxygen diffusion. Our objective is to understand the kinetics of the initial stages of titanium-oxygen interaction, as well as the crystalline structure of the resulting oxide films. To achieve this, experiments were conducted using sponge titanium prepared via Kroll's method, with sample dimensions of approximately 10 x 10 x 1 mm. The quality of the metal surface was crucial, and we applied multiple surface treatments including mechanical polishing, thermal annealing, and electrolytic polishing to ensure minimal contamination. The kinetics of film growth were carefully measured to establish the governing law for the initial stages of thin film formation. Additionally, we correlated the crystalline structures of the films with the experimental conditions and the properties of the polycrystalline titanium samples. The resulting data indicate significant deviations in the diffusion behavior of titanium compared to zirconium, highlighting the laminated structure of the oxide layer formed under varying conditions. This comprehensive understanding is vital for future applications involving non-alloyed and alloyed titanium.