| The inclusion of zirconia into precious metals restricts the effect of contamination and deformation at high temperatures by resisting grain growth. ZGS platinum materials offer significantly improved performance over
conventional platinum and its alloys. ZGS materials have fine, evenly dispersed particles of zirconia present
throughout their matrix. These particles slow down the processes of degradation dramatically. They achieve this by pinning dislocation networks formed during thermo-mechanical processing, so inhibiting the movement of
these dislocations to the grain boundaries. With ZGS materials, microstructural degradation is effectively restricted. ZGS materials exhibit improved resistance to intergranular contamination. This is achieved through retention of the high aspect-ratio grain structure, which requires a long and tortuous route for intergranular contaminants to travel. |
