Abnormal grain growth in the alumina-zirconia system was investigated
using a zirconia-20 weight% alumina nanocomposite. This composite was
synthesized by the chloride sol-gel synthesis technique using zirconiu
m tetrachloride, yttrium chloride and aluminum chloride as precursors.
The powders were cold pressed using 40 MPa and sintered at 1773 K or
1873 K for 16 hr. The pellets heat treated at 1773 K showed uniform gr
ain coarsening while the specimens heat treated at 1873 K showed signi
ficant amounts of abnormal grain growth. This is attributed to the ina
bility of the alumina dispersoids to pin the zirconia grains at higher
temperatures.