Production of spherical ZrO2-Y2O3 and ZnO particles

In recent years substantial effort has been focused on the use of engineered ceramics for biomedical applications. To produce ceramic components with reliable and reproducible properties for such speciality applications, it is necessary to use high-purity raw material powders with specific properties. Fine ceramic particles having specific shapes and sizes are also required for conducting biocompatibility experiments. This article reports on the laboratory scale production, in an aerosol reactor, of spherical, submicron zirconia (partially stabilized by yttria; ZrO2-Y2O3) and zinc oxide (ZnO) particles by the thermal decomposition of mists generated from aqueous solutions of inorganic metal salt precursors. The particles produced were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.