SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF CERAMIC NANOPARTICLES AND NANOCOMPOSITES

This paper describes the possibilities of synthesising ceramic nanopar ticles in a microwave plasma. The properties of these particles can be modified by coating them with a layer of a second material. A two-ste p process to produce this type of particle is described The structure of these nanocoated particles depends strongly, on the crystallisation behaviour of the phases forming the kernel and the coating. The main applications of these new nanocoated particles may, either be seen in the formation of diffusion barriers to avoid grain growth or in the mo dification of physical properties of the core and the chemical propert ies of the surface. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.