Zeitschrift für Materialwissenschaften und Ingenieurwesen

Synthesis of α-Al₂O₃ Nanopowders at Low Temperature from Aluminum Formate by Combustion Process

Abstract

Roque-Ruiz JH and Reyes-López SY

Chemical synthesis results in the most convenient route to produce ceramics nanoparticles. The methodology used consists in the formation of a sol from organometallic precursors. Two different fuels, ovalbumin and urea, along with aluminum formate were used to prepare nano alpha-alumina powder. Different fuel to oxidizer ratios and different percentage combination of two fuels were used to prepare six samples. In all samples, nanoscale particle size was obtained. The addition of urea and ovalbumin promotes amorphous character below 800°C. With the fuel approach, crystallinity can be enhanced easily, by calcination of powder product at low temperature around 1050°C. The methodology has capability to produce nanophase alumina powder with wide range of particles size 40-80 nm. Therefore the use of this precursor simplifies the process and provides another alternative process for economical synthesis of crystalline alumina.