Structure and Properties of Nanocrystalline Oxide Powders

The crystalline and porous structure of superfine powders and fibers made of alumina and zirconia doped with yttria is investigated. The particle sizes were determined by the methods of coherent dispersion and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Based on data on the sizes of crystallites of the metal oxides, which were obtained by different methods, it is found that crystalline transformations of the oxides lead to dispersion of the materials. The structural transformations of the superfine oxides are accompanied by changes in crystallite sizes and in the character and size of pores. The laws established allow one to purposefully control the process of producing nanostructured oxide powders and fibers, which can be utilized as active fillers for composite materials based on various matrices. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 831–840, November–December, 2005.