Mixture of fuels approach for the solution combustion synthesis of Al2O3–ZrO2 nanocomposite

A modified solution combustion approach was used for the first time in the preparation of nanosize zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) composite. ZTA-1 with an average particle size of ∼37 nm was prepared using corresponding metal nitrates and urea. ZTA-2 with an average particle size of <10 nm was prepared by using mixture of fuels such as ammonium acetate, urea and glycine. The products formed were characterised by powder X-ray diffractometry, Transmission electron microscopy and BET surface area analysis. By using mixture of fuels, the energetics of the combustion reaction and eventually the properties of the combustion product have been changed. A series of combustion reactions were carried out to optimise the fuel ratio combinations required to obtain <10 nm ZTA particles. The microstructure of ZTA consisted of crystallites of Al2O3 and ZrO2 both of which were nanocrystalline as evident from TEM.