SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALUMINA NANO-POWDER OBTAINED BY SOL-GEL METHOD

It is known that sol-gel method is an alternative method to produce ceramic powders. The present study deals with the synthesis and characterization of Al2O3 nanopowders which can be a potentially utilized material for biocompatible implants.[1,2,3,4] Based on sol-gel method, the synthesis started from different chemical nature precursors-inorganic (aluminum chloride, AlCl3) and organic (aluminum triisopropylate, (C3H7O)(3))Al). The powders obtained after drying the gel were heat treated at 1000 degrees C and 1200 degrees C for 2 hours. X-ray diffraction was used in order to characterize the powders in terms of their crystallinity degree and crystallite size. Microstructural and morphological characterization was performed using electron-microscopic techniques-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).