Synthesis and structures of Al–Ti nanoparticles by hydrogen plasma-metal reaction

Three kinds of Al–Ti nanoparticles (7.7, 27.8, and 42.6 at.% Ti) have been prepared from Al–65, Al–85, and Al–88 at.% Ti master alloys by hydrogen plasma-metal reaction, with average particle sizes of 30, 25, and 80 nm, respectively. The higher evaporation rate of Al than Ti resulted in the low Ti contents in the nanoparticles than those in the master alloys. Microscopy observation revealed that the primary nanoparticles are spherical in shape, and occur as chain aggregates of several individual nanoparticles due to the faster collision rate than the coalescence rate. All the Al–Ti nanoparticles contain amorphous alumina layers of about 2–3 nm in thickness surrounding the crystalline core. AlTi intermetallic nanoparticles were successfully produced for Al–27.8 at.% Ti, with a single crystal of AlTi in one chain aggregate. The composite nanoparticles of Al together with some Al3Ti phases are prepared for Al–7.7 at.% Ti, with each phase in the individual particle of one chain aggregate. The composite nanoparticles of AlTi with some AlTi3 were produced for Al–42.6 at.% Ti, with each phase in the individual particle of one chain aggregate. The formation mechanism of Al–Ti nanoparticles was interpreted in terms of phase transition and the effect of hydrogen.