Preparation of alumina fibre mats by a sol-gel spinning technique

High alumina fibre mats (with 2 and 4 wt% silica) having a web-like structu re have been fabricated directly during synthesis by a sol-gel technique. P oints of fusion in gel fibre mats helped in the formation of a web-like fib rous body having reasonable strength and very little dust formation after c alcination. Incorporation of silica as an additive, extended the stability range of the metastable transition phases of alumina, thereby increasing th e strength of the alumina fibres and of the mats in general. Strong and res ilient fibrous preforms could be obtained by a single step sol-gel method f ollowed by thermal treatment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd and Techna S.r. l. All rights reserved.