Preparation and microstuructural development of nanocrystalline titania and alumina

The preparation of nanocrystalline titania and alumina was investigated by sol-gel methods using titanium isopropoxide, boehmite and aluminum isopropoxide. Various drying control chemical additives like oxalic acid, acetic acid and polyacrylic acid were used for modifying the drying behaviour and shrinkage of the gels. The sintered densities of the ceramics prepared by sol-gel processing and the dried gels were in the 79-99% of theoretical density for rutile. The green and sintered densities of the pellets prepared by uniaxial pressing of powders derived from sols, gels and precipitation techniques for titania were in the 40-52% and 55-83% respectively. The titania ceramics were observed to experience anatase-rutile phase transformation upon heat treatment at 650degreesC. The grain size of the sintered ceramics at 650degreesC was determined to be about 26 nm. Grain size of titania increased to 213 nm. at 850degreesC. The mechanical properties of these nanocrystalline ceramics were investigated by using microhardness testing.