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Preparation of a dense alumina fiber with nanograins by a novel two-step calcination

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Controlling the density and the nanograin size is challenging but essential to prepare continuous alumina fibers with excellent performance. In this study, the continuous alumina fibers were prepared using the sol-gel method. The fibers calcined under different conditions were characterized to reveal the effect of calcining conditions on the fiber microstructure evolution. The results show that the phase transformation from amorphous Al2O3 to γ-Al2O3 and then to α-Al2O3 takes place during the calcining process. The fiber, prepared using a single-step calcining method, cannot obtain a fully dense and nanocrystal microstructure through optimizing the calcination conditions. Thus, a novel two-step calcining process was proposed, through which an almost fully dense α-Al2O3 fiber with an average grain size of ~150 nm was prepared and the tensile strength of fibers reaches 2.2 GPa. Based on the results, the effect mechanism of residual organics, phase transformation, densifying, and grain growth on the fiber microstructure evolution was discussed in depth.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

  • The full dense alumina fiber with nanograins were prepared using a novel two-step calcination.

  • The tensile strength of alumina fibers reaches up to 2.2 GPa.

  • The influencing mechanism of organics removal, phase transformation, grain growth, and densification on the microstructure regulation of alumina fibers was revealed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant no. U20A20240) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grant no. 2021JJ40769, 2020JJ5733).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on High-strength Structural Materials, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Yunzhu Ma, Shaoheng Peng, Wensheng Liu & Shuwei Yao

  2. Advanced Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China

    Juan Wang

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Correspondence to Shuwei Yao or Juan Wang.

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Ma, Y., Peng, S., Liu, W. et al. Preparation of a dense alumina fiber with nanograins by a novel two-step calcination. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 103, 125–138 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05813-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05813-0

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