Surface enhancement of Al2O3 fiber with nanosized Al2O3 particles using a dry mechanical coating process

Currently, fabrication of composite materials is of great interest in industry. By combining materials of different properties, we can produce new composite materials with synergetic functionality that individual materials do not possess. In this study, Al2O3 nanosized particles were coated on Al2O3 fiber substrates using a dry mechanical coating technique employing high shear and compression forces. The materials thus synthesized had high surface area with good dispersion for enhanced reactivity and were strong to sustain rigorous operation. Operating parameters, including rotor speed, processing time and initial loading percentage were varied to study their effects on the coating condition. The experimental results showed that the product surface area increased as the nanoparticle loading increased. The dispersion of nanoparticles improved as the processing time increased. A higher rotor speed resulted in a shorter product length while the nanoparticle loading had no effect on the product length. The durability test, conducted in a fluidized bed, indicated no significant change of the coating layer after 7 days of continuous testing.