Sintering and Grain growth in Nano-Alumina from Aluminum Chloride

Abstract

Aluminum chloride was employed to produce nanosized alumina powders by sol-gel method. Average particle size increased with the increase in sal:urea molar ratios or with the decrease in dilution. These alumina powders were studied for their microstructural developments during sintering subject to two modes of heating schedules under identical conditions. Sintering temperature decreases in general with the decrease in average particle size Nanoparticles of alumina manifested different grain growth and subsequent sintering at heating rates, 5^oC and 50^oC. At lower heating rate, the grain growth was bimodal with about 0.3 and 3 microns and densification was observed at 1600^oC.  While at elevated heating rate, the particles tend to show normal grain growth with desirable average grain, about 1 micron and densified at around 200^oC degrees lower temperature.

Keywords: Alumina, clays densification, grain growth.

DOI: 10.7176/CMR/18-1-04

Publication date: June 28^th 2026