Effect of Calcination Time on NiAl-Al2O3 using Gel Combustion Synthesis Method.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of calcination time on phase and microstructural characteristics of intermetallic matric composite (IMC), NiAl-Al₂O₃ powder. This powder was synthesized using gel combustion method with octyl alcohol as fuel. Upon completion of the combustion process, the loose powder was calcined at 1050°C for 1, 2 and 4 hours and characterized using XRD, FESEM and TEM. The crystallite size was calculated to be in the range of 29-30 nm. It was found that NiAl-Al₂O₃ exhibits high crystalline structure after calcination for 4 hours. Furthermore, longer calcination time also cause growth of the particle size. Findings indicate that high crystalline nanostructured NiAl-Al₂O₃ powder consisting of submicron particles can be successfully produced using gel combustion synthesis with longer calcination time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]