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Nanofibres and their composites are some of the emerging materials used in versatile applications due to their better compatible performance. Zirconia nanofibres are examples of such materials. Though zirconia nanofibres have better performance, their conductivity is inferior and to boost their performance, doping with metals is required. Thus, the present study deals with the development of zirconia nanofibres doped with copper and iron in different concentrations and hybrid combinations using the electrospinning method with polyvinyl alcohol as a precursor. The developed materials are subjected to a thermal treatment to develop the properties. Both the thermally treated and untreated fibres were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive analysis, viscosity and conductivity measurements. It was concluded that doping thermally treated zirconia nanofibres with a hybrid combination of copper and iron was beneficial.

In order to overcome limitations in the processing parameters of powder compaction method, a novel processing technique based on sol-gel route has been developed to produce near-net-shaped prototype fine zirconia minispheres with required properties that could potentially be used as grinding media. Impact of magnesia concentration and sintering temperature on the final product has been analyzed in detail. Zirconia minispheres have been characterized to establish a correlation between physical, structural and mechanical properties. Sintering temperature, soaking period, heating rate and viscosity of the sol apparently influence the characteristics of the magnesia stabilized zirconia minispheres. The phase identification, density variation, chemical decomposition, functional group specification, surface area, porosity, shrinkage and microstructural features of the dried and sintered final product have been studied. It has been observed that magnesia content, sintering temperature, density and the grain size of the sintered minispheres have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the final product.

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