Characterization of Al2O3–Al nano-composite powder prepared by a wet chemical method

A wet chemical method was used to prepare Al2O3-coated Al nano-size-composite powders using Al, aluminum nitrate and ammonia as the starting materials. TEM, SEM, TG/DSC, zeta potential, XPS, X-ray were used to characterize the composite powders. Results showed that a uniform thin Al(OH)3 layer can formed on the surface of Al particles. After calcined at 1000 °C for 2 h, the thin Al(OH)3 layer transforms to α-Al2O3 with mean size about 20 nm resulting in well dispersed Al2O3–Al composite powder.