Microwave assisted solution combustion synthesis of alumina-zirconia, ZTA, nanocomposite powder

In the present study the effect of microwave heating in producing alumina-20 wt% zircoma (ZTA) nanocomposite powder through metal nitrate solution combustion synthesis method using urea as fuel was studied For comparison ZTA nanocomposite powder is also synthesized using conventional heating method To characterize the products and evaluate the effect of microwave heating system on them X-ray diffractometry TEM SEM surface area analysis (BET) and TG/DTA analysis were used The results showed that both ZTA powder synthesized in microwave and furnace were nanocrystalline fine and brittle in which zircoma particles were homogeneously dispersed in the alumina matrix The results also proved that the powder produced in microwave was finer (<20 nm) with narrower size distribution and had better homogeneity of zircoma particles in alumina matrix but lower specific surface area in comparison with the sample which was synthesized in furnace (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved