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

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 B2O3:TTIP in solution was 1:3. The XRD results reveal that mechano-chemical reduction of the gel resulted in the formation of TiB2 and Al2O3 after 30 hours milling. Also, FTIR spectroscopy of 30 hours milled product seams to confirm the formation of TiB2 and Al2O3 phases in the final product. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the product has a wide range of particle size between 100 nm - 2µm. Transmission electron microscopy study of the product revealed a microstructure in which TiB2 particles dispersed in Al2O3 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.

XRD, nano-composite, sol-gel, mechano-chemical, TiB2.