Effect of Calcination Temperature on the Phase Composition, Morphology, and Thermal Properties of ZrO and AlO Modified with APTES (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane).

This paper describes the effect of calcination temperature on the phase composition, chemical composition, and morphology of ZrO and AlO powders modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Both ceramic powders were modified by etching in piranha solution, neutralization in ammonia water, reaction with APTES, ultrasonication, and finally calcination at 250, 350, or 450 °C. The obtained modified powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size distribution (PSD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).