Synthesis and Characterization of Alumina–Zirconia Nanopowders via an Oxalate Route

Abstract

Nanocrystalline Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ powder was synthesized by a simple method using oxalic acid as a chelating agent. The formation temperature of α - Al₂O₃ was investigated by differential thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that t-ZrO₂ was stabilized in alumina matrix with oxalic acid content 0.5 M and 1 M, respectively. In addition, the data from XRD showed α-Al₂O₃ and t-ZrO₂ phase can be formed at 1100°C with 1 M oxalic acid content. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrograph of calcined powders revealed as the oxalic acid content in the precursor solutions is increased from 0.25 M to 0.5 M concentration. The obtained materials could be modified from segregated nanoparticles to agglomerated nanoparticles and finally to large agglomerate with 1 M concentration of oxalic acid. The Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) confirms the formation of α-Al₂O₃ in corroboration with X-ray studies.

Keywords:

• Alumina–zirconia
• Ceramics
• Characterization methods
• Crystallization
• Differential thermal analysis
• Nanopowder
• Oxalic acid
• Thermogravimetric analysis
• Transmission electron microscope
• X-ray diffraction

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was supported by Korean Research Foundation through project no. KRF-2004-005-D0009.