Role of nano-size TiO2 particles on the crystallite size of microwave—Combustion synthesized Al2O3/TiC composite

Abstract The main goal of the current study is to clarify the effect of TiO 2 particles size (micro and nano) on the crystallite size of microwave—combustion synthesized Al 2 O 3 /TiC composite. Al, C, both nano- and micron TiO 2 have been mixed mechanically and milled using a planetary ball mill. The milled samples have been pressed before exposing to microwave with different powers. In order to validate the formation of Al 2 O 3 and TiC phases, the samples have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Crystallite sizes of produced TiC and Al 2 O 3 in samples containing micron TiO 2 are about 46.6–87.9 and 63.8–208.8 nm respectively and in samples containing nano-TiO 2 are about 38.2–68.7 and 54.4–99.5 nm respectively. It means that using nano-TiO 2 as one of the raw materials leads to formation of nano-structure Al 2 O 3 /TiC composite. Microstructure of produced composites has been evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Microscopic evaluations show that Al 2 O 3 phase in micron samples has a regular shape, unlike needle shape in nano-samples.