Synthesis and properties of cohydrolysis products of Ti(OBu)(4) and Al(OBu)(3)

An amorphous powder was prepared by cohydrolysis of Ti(OBu)(4) and Al(OBu)( 3). According to the results of thermal and X-ray phase analyses, its calci nation at 933-1573 K results in separate crystallization of corundum and ru tile, which above 1593 K react to form tialite. Prolonged annealing of tial ite at 1473 K results in its decomposition into a mixture of alpha -Al2O3 a nd TiO2. Thus, in the examined temperature range (873-1653 K) tialite is a metastable phase, and materials based on it cannot be used for a long time at these temperatures. At the same time, the dependence of the specific sur face area of the composite powder on the annealing time at 933 K suggests t he possibility of its long-term use (for several hundreds hours) as a catal yst or catalyst support.