Abstract
The preparation of alumina-zirconia (Al2O3-ZrO2) blend via spray drying was conducted and its effect on the blend flowability was investigated. The spray drying and heat treatment process did not cause any phase change in the blend. Agglomeration of fine particles of sizes < 1-5 mu m into larger particles of 1-30 m improved the blend's flowability after spray drying as it maintained low angles ranging from -30 degrees to -15 degrees with low angle variations after spray drying at the rotational speed ranging from 18 to 220 rpm, an improvement from -43 degrees to -33 degrees with large angle variations when no spray drying was done. The spray dried blend also showed high linearity which indicates lower degree of agglomeration, allowing smooth and even deposition during the SLM process.