Submicrometer alumina powders

A new manufacturing procedure for pure submicrometer alumina powder is presented. This process allows the physical characteristics of the powder to be controlled. The starting compound is an organic solution of aluminum alkoxide. Particles of aluminum acetate are produced by controlling the nucleation stage from an homogeneous solution. This aluminum acetate yields alumina powder after decomposition and firing. The decomposition treatment decreases the particle size. The final particle size of the alumina powder ranges between 0.1 and 0.2 {mu}m depending on the synthesis parameters. The shaping and sintering of these powders are studied.