Microstructure Analysis of Zirconia-Alumina-Silica Particles Made from Indonesia Natural Sand Synthesized Using Spray Pyrolysis Method

摘要

Zircon sand is one of Indonesian natural resource that is potential to be used as composite filler. Natural zircon sand can be found in several places in Indonesia, i.e. Riau Islands, Bangka-Belitung, and the Borneo. Zircon sand contains zirconia compound; while ZrO_2 is the oxide crystal of zirconia compound. The mechanical and esthetical supremacy of zirconia is the reason why the usage of zirconia as nanocomposite filler mixed with alumina and silica increases. Spray pyrolysis method was used to synthesized natural zircon sand of Indonesia with temperature variety of 400°C, 500°C and 600°C. Spray pyrolysis decomposed zircon sand into powder in nano-sized. Microstructure analysis conducted were SEM, EDS, and XRD. SEM analysis showed that the morphology of particle was spherical, uniform, and regular with size of 100-500nm. EDS and XRD showed best results at the temperature of 400°C. Analysis result of EDS indicated that the largest atomic percentage was owned by sodium with ratio of Zr:Al:Si of 1:2:54 at temperature of 400°C. The XRD pattern of 400°C revealed that the crystal structure of zirconium silicate (ZrSiO_4) was tetragonal, the structure of quartz (SiO_2) was trigonal, and the structure of corundum aluminum oxide (Al_2O_3) was rhombohedral. Synthesis of zirconia-alumina-silica particles from natural zircon sand of Indonesia could be used as composite filler based on the characterization results.