Abstract
Nanophase alumina is synthesized in an atmospheric pressure radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor through melting, evaporation, and vapor phase nucleation technique. A specially designed high-pressure RF plasma reactor fitted with an indigenously built RF plasma torch converts commercially available micrometer size alumina chunks into spherical nanophase alumina in a single step under ambient quenching conditions without use of any additional quenching gas. Obtained powder contains mixed phases of α and δ-alumina as revealed by X Ray Diffraction studies. Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses exhibit very small particle size (peak at 15 nm), narrow size distribution (half width ∼24 nm), zero agglomeration, and good crystallinity. Obtained particle characteristics together with the high purity owing to inherent electrode-less feature of the RF discharge are suitable for important technological applications including fabrication of high-power ceramic laser gain media like Y3Al5O12 (YAG) from composites of Al 2O3 and Y2O3. Characteristics of the synthesized alumina are compared with that of nanoalumina synthesized in atmospheric arcs.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 6728627 |
Pages (from-to) | 759-766 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Atmospheric-pressure plasmas
- plasma devices
- plasma materials processing
- plasma sources