Synthesis and characterization of ZrO2–MgAl2O4 nanocomposite powder by a novel chemical route

Nanocrystalline 30wt%zirconia-spinel composite powders were synthesized by a modified chemical route using sucrose and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a chelating agents and template materials from the aqueous solutions of metal nitrates followed by a post calcinations process. The process involved dehydration of Mg2+–Al3+–Zr4+ ions-sucrose–PVA solution to a highly viscous liquid which on decomposition process produced the precursor materials. The obtained precursor was then calcined at various temperatures (700-1250°C) for two hours in air. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the precursors and the heat-treated final powders. Zirconia was found solely in tetragonal form based on our XRD results. Zirconia-spinel nanopowder had particle size in the range of 16–50 nm. The particles have sizes of the same order to that of crystallite which indicates poor agglomeration of crystallites.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nanopowder ، zirconia-spinel composite ، sucrose solution ، PVA