Guideline of mapping parameters for Raman mapping of ZrB ₂ –SiC ceramic composites

Determination of the collection parameters to create the most accurate two-dimensional Raman maps of ZrB2–10 wt-%SiC ceramic composites with the shortest experimental time and highest spatial resolution possible is of high importance and interest. In the present paper, the optimisation of the parameters such as collection times, exposure time, scan type, and resolution step size using a Renishaw inVia micro-Raman spectrometer equipped with a motorised XYZ stage for automatic collection of the maps is reported. The authors found that a static scan with 30-s exposure and any resolution better than 0.7 μm produced an adequate high-quality peak intensity and a peak with two-dimensional maps of TO peak of SiC in ZrB2–10 wt-%SiC ceramic composites within a reasonable amount of time of a few hours of collection.