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

The effect of an addition of ZrO2 nanoparticles on the TiO2-Al-C combustion synthesis system was investigated. The result of thermodynamic calculation shows that about 10 wt.% ZrO2 nanoparticles addition reduces the T-ad from 2398 to 2327 K (the melting point of Al2O3). The fraction of molten Al2O3 varied from 100% to 78% with the addition of ZrO2 in the range of 0 - 15 wt.%. The combustion velocity u and the mass combustion velocity G decrease with the increasing content Of ZrO2 nanoparticles. The combustion product is a mixture of Al2O3, TiC and ZrO2. Al2O3-TiC-ZrO2 nanocomposites were synthesized by reactions in TiO2-Al-C-ZrO2 Combustion synthesis system. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.