Preparation of alumina/titanium diboride nano-composite powder by milling assisted sol-gel method

摘要

Alumina-titanium diboride nano-composite powder was prepared from TTIP and boron oxide using a sol-gel method followed by mechano-chemical reduction in the presence of Al. Optimum weight ratio of B_2O_3:TTIP in solution was 1:3. The XRD results reveal that mechano-chemical reduction of the gel resulted in the formation of TiB_2 and Al_2O_3 after 30 h milling. Also, FTIR spectroscopy of 30 h milled product seams to confirm the formation of TiB_2 and Al_2O_3 phases in the final product. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the product has a wide range of particle size between 100 nm-2 μm. Transmission electron microscopy study of the product revealed a microstructure in which TiB_2 particles dispersed in Al_2O_3 matrix with a crystallite size of 10-30 nm. The homogeneity of the composite powder and low temperature of the process distinguished the present study from the previous researches.