Synthesis of alumina powder by the urea–glycine–nitrate combustion process: a mixed fuel approach to nanoscale metal oxides

Abstract

Main objective of present work is to study the efficiency of mixed fuel towards solution combustion synthesis of alumina powder, which otherwise prepared by single fuel and study of properties of final product with mixed fuel approach. Two different fuels, glycine and urea, along with aluminium nitrates have been used to prepare nanophase alumina powder. Different fuel to oxidizer ratios and different percentage combination of two fuels were used to prepare six samples. In all samples, nanoscale particle size obtained. Parameter which continuously changes the results of various characterisations is percentage combination of two fuels. In case where percentage of urea is higher than glycine reaction takes place with high exothermicity and hence crystallinity in product phase, whereas glycine promotes amorphous character. With mixed fuel approach, crystallinity can be enhanced easily, by calcinations of powder product at low temperature, because due to mixed urea and glycine, there is already some fraction of crystallinity observed. Overall mixed fuel approach has ability to produce nanophase alumina powder with wide range of particles size.