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

Abstract In the present study, the effect of microwave heating in producing alumina–20 wt% zirconia (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 zirconia particles were homogeneously dispersed in the alumina matrix. The results also proved that, the powder produced in microwave was finer (