The effect of ZrO2 nanoparticles on TiO2-Al-C combustion synthesis system

Abstract The effect of an addition of ZrO 2 nanoparticles on the TiO 2 –Al–C combustion synthesis system was investigated. The result of thermodynamic calculation shows that about 10 wt.% ZrO 2 nanoparticles addition reduces the T ad from 2398 to 2327 K (the melting point of Al 2 O 3 ). The fraction of molten Al 2 O 3 varied from 100% to 78% with the addition of ZrO 2 in the range of 0–15 wt.%. The combustion velocity u and the mass combustion velocity G decrease with the increasing content of ZrO 2 nanoparticles. The combustion product is a mixture of Al 2 O 3 , TiC and ZrO 2 . Al 2 O 3 –TiC–ZrO 2 nanocomposites were synthesized by reactions in TiO 2 –Al–C–ZrO 2 combustion synthesis system.