Domains in Ordered Titanium Monoxide

Abstract

Structures of titanium monoxide TiO_y at different nonstoichiometric ratios and degrees of ordering are studied via X-ray diffraction and electron and optical microscopy. It is shown that the microstructure of substoichiometric, stoichiometric, and superstoichiometric TiO_y is determined by the presence of different ordered phases that form and grow in the matrix of the high-temperature phase with cubic structure. Study of the microhardness of TiO_y shows that it depends on both the stoichiometry and the degree of ordering, and changes from 990 to 1400 kg/mm². It is found that the microhardness of ordered titanium monoxide is greater than that of the disordered variant, due to the formation of domains of ordered phases.