Hydrothermal Synthesis of Porous Al2O3/Al Metal Ceramics: II. Mechanism of Formation of a Porous Al(OH)3/Al Composite

The formation of a porous layer of aluminum hydroxide on the surface of aluminum particles and the aggregation of Al(OH)3/Al composite particles were analyzed theoretically. It was found that the diffusion mass transfer of the hydroxo complexes of aluminum through the porous structure of a growing layer of aluminum hydroxide to the outer surface is a rate-limiting step in the synthesis of the porous composite. A model mechanism of formation of the porous composite was developed, and rate equations were derived for describing the growth of an aluminum hydroxide layer on the surface of an aluminum particle and changes in the degree of aluminum conversion and the contact radius between composite particles. Based on the developed mathematical model and experimental data, the diffusion coefficient of the hydroxo complexes of aluminum in the porous structure of aluminum hydroxide was calculated.