Characteristics of $Al_2O_3-15$ vol% $ZrO_2$ powders prepared from metal alkoxides and their sintering behavior were investigated with the conditions of hydrolysis. The hydrolysis condition was varied with alkoxides concentration, solvents, and aging temperature.
Thermal behavior of the powders was studied by FT-IR, DT and TG analysis and their crystallization was analyzed from XRD. Particle shape and specific surface area were charactrized by TEM and BET method.
Particle size of calcined powder was measured below 300Å. The iso-propyl alcohol used and 20℃ aged specimen sintered at 1600℃ for 2h after calcined at 1200℃ for 2h has up to 95.5% of theoretical density and a tetragonal phase fraction on $ZrO_2$ phases of the sintered body was calculated as 0.57 from XRD data.
In case of preparing $Al_2O_3-ZrO_2$ powder from aluminum sec-butoxide and zirconium propoxide, iso-propyl alcohol was more effective solvent than sec-butyl alcohol.
Based on this study, it is suggested that the optimal condition of hydrolysis is 3g oxide/100 ml alcohol and calcination temp. of room temp. aged powder is 1200℃, respectively. Also, it is shown that $ZrO_2$ grain below 0.5㎛ can be dispersed into interior of fine $Al_2O_3$ grains and grain boundary.
