Comparison in mechanical properties of zirconium titanate (ZrTiO4) synthetized by alternative routes and sintered by microwave (MW)

At present, ZrTiO4 nanopowders are used as a dielectric in the electroceramic field, applications of catalysis, microwave telecommunications devices, pigments, composites, etc. One of the most interesting applications is the potential as structural material and similar applications that require a high thermal resistance. However, all the properties of zirconium titanate are still a subject of interest for the industrial field.12   There are several routes of synthesis of ZrTiO4; among them is the sol-gel method and lyophilization. These methods have been used to make powders or small pieces of zirconium titanate. However, structural applications require materials in large quantities, so it is necessary to identify the differences between the methods of synthesizing and allowing the preparation of powders suitable for the generation of green materials for subsequent sintering.3   To develop a new generation of nanomaterials with microstructural differences it is necessary to innovate in the sintering process. Years ago, the use of conventional oven for sintering material was the usual procedure. Nowadays, non-conventional methods as Microwave sintering (MW) are a bright way to produce high dense materials, using heating rates in reduce dwell times and lower consumption using 70%-80% less energy. 4   This reactive sintering technique achieves excellent mechanical properties, homogeneous microstructure employing lower sintering temperatures. All these energy and economic advantages generate a new vision for the future on ceramic materials and their industrial production. The main objective of this study is to make a comparison of the mechanical properties of the materials synthesized by sol-gel method and lyophilization and sintered by microwaves.