Abstract
Zinc aluminate nanopowders were synthesized via poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) assisted microwave approach. The as-synthesized ZnAl2O4 nanopowders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area of electron diffraction (SAED). The prepared ZnAl2O4 nanopowders exhibited a spinel cubic polycrystalline structure. The increase of poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) amounts decreased the particle size of the ZnAl2O4 nanopowders. The poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) enhanced the densification rate of ZnAl2O4. The increasing of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) amount decreased the sintering temperature from 1300 degrees C to 950 degrees C. The hot-compressed ZnAl2O4 nanopowders in the existence of 2 wt% of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) exhibited full density at 950 degrees C in just 20 min. The ZnAl2O4 ceramic films revealed a high transparency of 83 +/- 1% at a wavelength range from 450-1200 nm.