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.

Keywords:

Nanopowder , zirconia-spinel composite , sucrose solution , PVA