The aim of research was the elaboration of the synthesis of new organic monomer applicable in gelcasting. The substance named 3,4-di-acryloyl-D-mannitol which contains two acryloyl groups and four hydroxyl groups in its molecule has been synthesized. The monomer has been then applied in the preparation of Al2O3-ZrO2 composites by gelcasting and subsequent sintering. Rheological properties of ceramic suspensions have been examined, as well as the properties of green and sintered bodies. SEM observations allowed to determine the distribution of zirconia grains in alumina matrix. Density, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of ZTA composites have been measured. The new monomer, that is diacryloyl derivative of mannitol, is less sensitive to the oxygen inhibition than commonly used in gelcasting and commercially available 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate.

An experimental investigation was performed on the thermal performance and heat transfer characteristics of acetone/zirconia nanofluid in a straight (rod) gravity-assisted heat pipe. The heat pipe was fabricated from copper with a diameter of 15 mm, evaporator-condenser length of 100 mm and adiabatic length of 50 mm. The zirconia-acetone nanofluid was prepared at 0.05–0.15% wt. Influence of heat flux applied to the evaporator, filling ratio, tilt angle and mass concentration of nanofluid on the heat transfer coefficient of heat pipe was investigated. Results showed that the use of nanofluid increases the heat transfer coefficient while decreasing the thermal resistance of the heat pipe. However, for the filling ratio and tilt angle values, the heat transfer coefficient initially increases with an increase in both. However, from a specific value, which was 0.65 for filling ratio and 60–65 deg for tilt angle, the heat transfer coefficient was suppressed. This was attributed to the limitation in the internal space of the heat pipe and also the accumulation of working fluid inside the bottom of the heat pipe due to the large tilt angle. Overall, zirconia-acetone showed a great potential to increase the thermal performance of the heat pipe.

Two different complexing agents, namely citric acid and gelatin, were used for gel-combustion synthesis of yttria stabilized zirconia. The influence of synthesis conditions on properties of powders and sintered bodies was studied by X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and helium pycnometer measurements.

The effects of different types of balls on spark plasma sintering (SPS) characteristics of high energy ball milled Ti-48wt% Al-4wt% Nd powders were investigated. After ball milling with STS balls and zirconia balls at 800 rpm for 3 h in argon atmosphere, both powders showed shape factors of about 0.8, but their average powder sizes differed respectively at approximately 11 µm and 5 µm. From XRD results, only the peaks of pure Ti, Al and Nd were detected in both powders. The obtained Ti-Al-Nd powders were consolidated by SPS technique at 1373 K for 15 min under a pressure of 50 MPa in vacuum, resulting in high density over 99%. EDS and XRD analyses indicated the formation of binary phases such as TiAl3, TiAl, Ti3Al5, and NdAl3 after SPS in both cases of STS and zirconia balls, while the ternary Ti-Al-Nd phase was detected only in the case of zirconia balls. The size of second phases was slightly smaller in the case of zirconia balls. The microhardness of the sample was 790 Hv with zirconia balls and 540 Hv with STS balls.