Nanocrystalline Powders Based on ZrO2 for Biomedical Applications and Power Engineering

An 80 mass% ZrO2 ― 20 mass% Al2O3 powder was produced using a complex method which integrates sol-gel technology and hydrothermal synthesis. The specific surface areas of the powder varied from 39 to 5.3 m2/g depending on the thermal treatment conditions. Metastable F-ZrO2 formed after powder annealing at 400°C. The phase transformation F-ZrO2 → T-ZrO2 (traces of M-ZrO2) occurred under powder thermal treatment from 700 to 1000°C. Only Θ-Al2O3 was detected under experimental conditions. The powder was characterized by sintering activity. Operating the processes under powder thermal treatment in the ZrO2 ― Y2O3 ― CeO2 ― Al2O3 system will allow one to produce a variety of ceramic microstructures from fine-grained to “self-reinforced.” These powders can be used in manufacturing surgical cutting tools as well as in ceramic passive bioimplants and solid electrolytes for fuel elements.