The preparation and characterization of Al2O3/ZrO2 nanocrystalline composite by a simple gel method

Al2O3-ZrO2 nanocomposite was prepared in tartaric, glycolic and citric acids by a simple gel method. The surface areas of the samples were changed from 58 m(2)/g to 278 m(2)/g. The average crystallite size of nanocomposite heat treated at 1000 degrees C was less than 10 nm and also tetragonal zirconia phase without transformation to monoclinic phase, which remained in the alumina matrix close to 1500 degrees C according to X-ray results. However, monoclinic phase was observed from Raman spectra of samples heated at 1500 degrees C. The prepared gel and subsequent heat-treated powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to get detailed information regarding differentiation of polymorphs of zirconia as well as formation of powders. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.