Al2O3-ZrO2 nanocomposites produced by solution combustion synthesis followed by ultrasonic milling

Zirconia toughened alumina materials (ZTA) have been produced by solution combustion synthesis (SCS). SCS has proved to be a rather rapid and simple method to produce nano-structured ceramic oxides powders. Its main drawback is a limited sinterability of the powder due to aggregation of the nanometric grains into larger particles characterized by irregular shapes. It was found out that when coupling the preparation of ZTA nanocomposites by SCS with ultrasonic milling it is possible to improve the powder sinterability. The effect of ultrasonic irradiation on the powders was observed by BET and SEM analyses, and by its effect on the final density.