Alumina precursors produced by gel combustion

Abstract Alumina precursor produced by a gel combustion method using aluminum nitrate and citric acid as raw materials was investigated. Thermodynamic calculation of the combustion reaction shows that as the citrate-to-nitrate ratio γ increases, the enthalpy of reaction and adiabatic flame temperatures also increase. The DSC analysis indicates that the combustion temperature of the gel decreases, as the citrate content in the gel increases in the fuel-lean condition. In the stoichiometric and fuel-rich conditions, combustion temperature remains ∼160 °C with increase of γ .