Synthesis and characterization of Al2O3/ZrO2, Al2O3/TiO2 and Al2O3/ZrO2/TiO2 ceramic composite particles prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Fine ceramic particles of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA), titania toughened alumina (TTA), and zirconia-titania toughened alumina (ZTTA) have been synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) at various temperatures from starting salt solutions of various compositions aiming for the development of catalytic material. These particles were characterized for properties such as shape, size and size distribution, diffraction pattern, and chemical and phase composition of elements by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size analyzer (PSA), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Chemical compositions and sizes of ceramic composites have been controled by the stoichiometry of salt solutions and the flow rate of spraying solutions. The optimum experimental conditions for the various composite particle syntheses have been proposed.