Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Michael John Morton

James D Birchall

John Edward Cassidy

Michael D Taylor

Jeffrey Stuart Kenworthy

The process relates to the preparation of a shaped body having at least one dimension less than 100 microns and comprising alumina or an alumina hydrate. An aqueous composition comprising a water-soluble aluminum compound, for example aluminum chloride, sulphate, acetate, formate, propionate, oxalate, phosphate or nitrate and a water-soluble organic polymer is formed into the desired shape. The body so formed is dried, and is subjected to hydrothermal treatment at a temperature of at least 200.degree. C. to decompose the aluminum compound to alumina or an alumina hydrate. The body is optionally further heated subsequent to the hydrothermal treatment.

Process for preparing shaped body of alumina

A liquid composition comprising a solution of a water-soluble metal compound convertible to metal oxide and a smaller amount of a hydrolytically stable water-soluble organic silicone which may be used to prepare binders, coatings and shaped bodies, especially fibres, of intimate mixtures of metal oxide and silica. Preferred silicones are polysiloxane, polyoxyalkylene copolymers and preferred metal compounds are salts of aluminium and zirconium. Phase-stabilised alumina, especially in the form of fibres, is a particularly important embodiment; transitional alumina can be stabilised up to 1400.degree. C without the appearance of separate phases of mullite and crystalline silica.

Liquid composition

A liquid composition comprising a solution of a water-soluble metal compound convertible to metal oxide and a smaller amount of a hydrolytically stable water-soluble organic silicone which may be used to prepare binders, coatings and shaped bodies, especially fibres, of intimate mixtures of metal oxide and silica. Preferred silicones are polysiloxane, polyoxyalkylene copolymers and preferred metal compounds are salts of aluminium and zirconium. Phase-stabilized alumina, especially in the form of fibres, is a particularly important embodiment; transitional alumina can be stabilized up to 1400.degree. C without the appearance of separate phases of mullite and crystalline silica.

Shaped bodies of alumina and silica

A method for the preparation of refractory fibers wherein a composition comprised of a polar solvent solution of a metal compound and an organic polymer is extruded into converging gas streams which contain vapor of said solvent therein so as to yield a relative humidity of at least 80%, and subsequently removing at least a portion of the solvent from the fiber formed.

Refractory fiber preparation with use of high humidity atmosphere

Alumina fibre is prepared by spinning a solution containing an aluminium compound and an organic polymer, removing solvent and contacting the fibre with ammonia or an amine before conversion of the fibre to alumina.

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Runcorn, United Kingdom

Michael John Morton