Al2O3-YAG-ZrO2 composites have been produced by surface modification of a commercial nano-crystalline alumina powder with inorganic precursors of the desired second phases. The doped powders were calcined at various temperatures and for different times: as a function of the thermal treatment, zirconia directly crystallized on the alumina surface, while YAG phase was yielded by solid state reaction among an amorphous yttrium-rich precursor and alumina powder. Several compositions, with increasing second phases volume fractions, were investigated, precisely, Alumina-5vol.%YAG-5vol.%ZrO2, Alumina-20vol.%YAG-20vol.%ZrO2 and Alumina- 33vol.%YAG-33vol.%ZrO. Slip cast bodies were produced by aqueous suspensions of calcined and well-dispersed powders; free-sintering performed at 1500°C for 3 h allowed to reach full densification. The role of the second phases amount on the microstructural features and on some mechanical data preliminary evaluated was established.
