Electrospun alumina fibers doped with ferric and magnesium oxides

It is well known that alumina possesses good mechanical and chemical properties. Nanofibers having α – alumina structure was used as reinforcement for metal, polymer and ceramic matrix composites. In this study, three series of nanofibers were prepared. The first series was made from 10 % water solution of the aluminium chloride hydroxide/polyvinyl alcohol with a mass ratio of 5:1. The other two series were made with the addition of 1 wt.% of MgCl2 or 1 wt.% of FeCl3 regarding the aluminium chloride hydroxide content. Nanofibers were prepared using the electrospinning technique and they were characterized by the TGA/DTA, XRD and FESEM methods. It was proven that addition of FeCl3 into the initial spinning solution lowers the temperature for the corundum structure formation while the addition of MgCl2 results if the formation of mixed oxides that eases the sintering process.