Effect of Reaction Time on the Synthesis and Sintering of Magnesium-Aluminium Spinel by Microwave Hydrothermal Synthesis

In this study, microwave hydrothermal synthesis of magnesium-aluminium spinel from pseudo-boehmite (AlOOH.nH2O) (n=0.62) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) for different reaction times is researched. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) are used to find out how the reaction time affects the synthesis of magnesium aluminium spinel precursors. The superficial properties of magnesium aluminium spinel precursors are investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to XRD analysis, magnesium hydroxide reacts with pseudo-boehmite to form magnesium aluminium hydroxide hydrate. The median diameter of the samples obtained at 200 min was 5.958 μm. The agglomeration phenomenon was very serious especially when the synthesis time is greater than 200 min. The sintered sample obtained at 150°C for 200 min had more dense structure and smaller average grain size. The average grain size of the sintered sample was 0.527 μm. The best reaction time for microwave isothermal synthesis and sintering of magnesium aluminium spinel is 200 min. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT