Preparation of alumina ceramic template by the molten salt method

Abstract

Single-crystal alpha alumina (α-Al₂O₃) platelets were synthesised with aluminium sulphate in the study. Moreover, the effects of the heating temperature, holding time, and different power mixtures of γ-Al₂O₃ and sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) on the morphology of as-prepared α-Al₂O₃ platelets were explored. The crystalline phase evolution and morphology of the samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. According to the further analysis results, most of α-Al₂O₃ platelets were hexagonal particles. After the power mixture of γ-Al₂O₃ and Na₂SO₄ (1:2) was heated at 1200°C for 1 h, the platelet size became relatively uniform with an average diameter of 3–5 μm and a thickness of 50–100 nm. This method is an easily controllable, simple, and green method to produce high-quality α-Al₂O₃ platelets.