Mechanical treatment of TiO2 and ZrO2 oxide mixtures.

The mixed ZrO2-TiO2 system (5-50 wt% of ZrO2) has been studied to investigate the influence of the mechanical treatment on its physicochemical properties depending on the composition, time of milling (5, 10 and 20 min, r.p.m. 82) and temperature (400, 550 and 700 degrees C). Samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersion X-ray analyzer, High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscopy and nitrogen adsorption porosimetry. Results show that srilankite (TiZrO4) phase has been produced. No influence of the milling time and temperature on the phase composition is observed. The presence of zirconia increases the thermal stability of anatase phase up to 700 degrees C hindering the anatase rutile phase transformation.