Design of Alumina-Zirconia Nanocomposite Powders for Implants Development

A 95 vol.% alumina - 5 vol.% zirconia composite powder was produced following a simple surface modication procedure, starting from a zirconium chloride aqueous solution and a commercial, ultra-� ne � -alumina powder. The evolution of phases as well as of the nano- microstructure was followed as a function of powder heat-treatments prior to sintering, in order to develop a preliminary "nano-powder engineering" approach, in view of a controlled tailoring of the microstructural features of the dense materials. Keywords: Nanopowders, Nanocomposite, Al2O3, ZrO2, Biomedical applications