Low temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline calcium aluminate compounds with surfactant-assisted precipitation method

Nanocrystalline calcium aluminates with different CaO:Al2O3 and surfactant/metal ion molar ratios were prepared by wet chemical synthesis method using Poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG–PPG–PEG, MW:5800) as surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption–desorption results showed that the increase in CaO:Al2O3 ratio decreased the specific surface area and increased the particle sizes of prepared samples while the surfactant/metal ion molar ratios were kept constant. These analyses also declared that for the sample with CaO:Al2O3 = 1:2 (CA2) addition of polymeric surfactant increased the specific surface area and decreased the crystallite size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirmed that size of particles for CaO:Al2O3 = 1:6 (CA6) sample are smaller than CA2. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed no particular particle shape for the CA2 sample but it showed the high degree of crystallinity and single phase for the prepared sample at 1100 °C.