MgO-Al2O3-ZrO2composite powders with 3 kinds of mass ratio were synthesized by sol–gel method using MgCl2·6H2O, AlCl3·6H2O and ZrOCl2·8H2O as starting materials, and NH3·H2O as a precipitant. The composite powders which match with zirconium oxide particle size and evenly distribute can are advantageous to the formation of metastable t-ZrO2and restrain the grain growth as the additive of modified sizing nozzle. Chemical composition, mineral phase, particle size distribution and micro-morphology of the composite powders were investigated by X-ray fluorescence instrument, X-ray diffractometer, laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscope. Research showed that under the process that the concentration of MgCl2solution 0.2 mol/L, AlCl3and ZrOCl2solution concentration 0.5 mol/L, the pH controlled between 10 ~ 11, PEG as the surfactant, drying at 70°C±5°C, heat treatment temperature at 800°C for 3h, particle size distribution of MgO-Al2O3-ZrO2composite powders were: d10= 1.28 μm, d50= 4.65μm, d90= 11.13μm (MgO 10%); d10= 1.15μm, d50= 5.80μm, d90= 15.13μm (MgO 15%);d10= 1.21μm, d50= 6.59μm, d90= 16.87μm (MgO 20%). With the rising of heat treatment temperature, the crystallization degree of composite powders increased, at 800 °C a small amount of t - ZrO2precipitated, meanwhile MgO and Al2O3are still in the amorphous phase. The MgO-A12O3-ZrO2composite powders under this condition have high reactivity and uniform distribution.
