Alumina-iron nanocomposite powders were prepared by a two-step process.In the first step,α-Al_2O_3-FeCl_2 powder mixture was formed by mixingα-Al_2O_3 powders with FeCl_2 solution followed by drying.In the second step,the FeCl_2 in the dry power mixture was selectively reduced to iron particles.A reduction temperature of 750℃for 15 min in dry H_2 was chosen based on the thermodynamic calculations.The concentration of iron in FeCl_2 solution was calculated to be 20 vol.pct in the final composite.Two techniques were used to produce composite bulk materials.The Al_2O_3 nanocomposite powders were divided to two batches.The first batch of the produced mixture was hot pressed at 1400℃and 27 MPa for 30 min in a graphite die.To study the effect of oxygen on the Al_2O_3/Fe interface bonding and mechanical properties of the composite, the second batch was heat treated in air at 700℃for 20 min to partially oxidize the iron particles before hot pressing.Characterization of the composites was undertaken by conventional density measurements,X-ray diffractometry(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and electron probe micro analysis(EPMA).The suggested processing route(mixing,reduction and hot pressing) produces ceramic-metal nanocomposite much tougher than the pure Al_2O_3.The fracture strength of the produced Al_2O_3/Fe nanocomposite is nearly twice that of the pure Al_2O_3.The presence of spinel phase, FeAl_2O_4,as thick layer around the Fe particles in the Al_2O_3 matrix has a detrimental effect on interracial bonding between Fe and Al_2O_3 and the fracture properties of the composite. Alumina-iron nanocomposite powders were prepared by a two-step process. In the first step, α-Al 2 O 3 -FeCl 2 powder mixture was formed by mixing α-Al 2 O 3 powders with FeCl 2 solution followed by drying. In the second step, the FeCl 2 in the dry A reduction temperature of 750 ° C for 15 min in dry H_2 was chosen based on the thermodynamic calculations. The concentration of iron in FeCl_2 solution was calculated to be 20 vol. pct in the final composite. Two Techniques were used to produce composite bulk materials. Al 2 O 3 nanocomposite powders were divided to two batches. The first batch of the produced mixtures was hot pressed at 1400 ° C and 27 MPa for 30 min in a graphite die. To study the effect of oxygen on the Al 2 O 3 / Fe interface bonding and mechanical properties of the composite, the second batch was heat treated in air at 700 ° C for 20 min to partially oxidize the iron particles before hot pressing. Characterization of the composites w as subjected by conventional density measurements, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) ceramic-metal nanocomposite much tougher than the pure Al 2 O 3. The fracture strength of the produced Al 2 O 3 / Fe nanocomposite is nearly twice that of the pure Al 2 O 3. The presence of spinel phase, FeAl 2 O 4, as thick layer around the Fe particles in the Al 2 O 3 matrix has a detrimental effect on interracial bonding between Fe and Al_2O_3 and the fracture properties of the composite.