Fabrication of nanosized alumina powders by a simple polymer solution route

Nanosized alumina (Al2O3) powders had been successfully fabricated by a simple polymer solution route employing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an organic carrier. The fabricated alumina powders had an average particle size of 6.1 nm with a high specific surface area of 99.5 m2/g. As well, the alumina powders were fully crystallized to alpha phase at a relatively low temperature of 1000 degrees C. The PVA polymer contributed to a soft and porous microstructure of the calcined alumina powders, and ball-milling process with the porous powders was effective in making nanosized alumina powders. In addition, the content and degree of polymerization of the PVA affected the development of crystallization and powder properties. In this study, the simple polymer technique and milling process for the fabrication of nanosized alumina powders are introduced, and the effects of PVA on the property of the synthesized alumina powders are observed. For the study, the characterizations of the synthesized powders are conducted by using XRD, TEM, particle size analyzer, and nitrogen gas adsorption.