Different types of aluminum sources (such as Al2O3 and Al(OH)3) were used to prepare an Al2O3-ZrO2 composite powder inan alcohol-water system, in which ZrOCl2·8H2O and NH4HCO3 were used as starting material and precipitant, respectively. This study explores the effects of different types of aluminum sources and heat treatment on the preparation of Al2O3-ZrO2composite powder. The sintering property of the Al2O3-ZrO2 composite powder prepared from different types of aluminumsources was also investigated. Results indicate that Al2O3-ZrO2 composite powder prepared from Al(OH)3-containingprecursors after calcination at 600 oC possesses a relatively uniform spherical structure, with particle size ranging from 50 nmto 100 nm. As the calcination temperature increases, the particle size of powder prepared using precursors that containAl(OH)3 increases and the micro appearance of the particles gradually shifts from a mainly spherical structure to a diversifiedstructure, which can be spherical, sheet-like or rod-like. The Al2O3-ZrO2 composite powder prepared from Al(OH)3-containingprecursors exhibits satisfactory sintering property. The relative density of the sintered sample reaches 98.5%, and the Rockwellhardness reaches 85.5 HRA after sintering of the composite powder at 1550 oC for 2 hrs.

Keywords: Alumina-zirconia, Composite powder, Preparation, Alcohol-water system, Sintering behavior