Effect of Al2O3 addition on ZrO2 phase composition in the Al2O3–ZrO2 system

Al2O3–ZrO2 powders with 15, 50 and 85 wt.% Al2O3 were prepared by mixing high purity α-alumina powder with Zr(OH)4 gel synthesized by the precipitation method. The obtained mixture was calcined for 2 h at temperatures ranging from 400 to 1300 °C. The effect of the addition of Al2O3 on ZrO2 phase composition in the Al2O3–ZrO2 system was characterized by means of differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.