Alkoxide-based sol-gel synthesis of MgO-ZrO2- SiO2 compositions

Using acetylacetone-complexed zirconium alkoxide and tetracthylsilane. the sol-gel technique was followed to prepare five different compositions within the MgO-ZrOr SiO2 system, primarily as amorphous powders. XRD analysis showed the formation enstatitc and zirconia on mild thermal treatment. The results of XRD and Raman spectra indicated that the obtained zirconia powders are of tetragonal phase at room temperature and was thermally stable over the temperature range of 1000-1300 °C. The powders showed aggregates of nanosize zirconia crystallites as shown by some SEM photos