Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Powder at Room Temperature

Abstract

MgAl 2 O 4 spinel was successfully synthesized using a mechanochemical route that avoided the formation and calcination of its precursors at high temperatures. The method involved a single step in which γ‐Al 2 O 3 –MgO, AlO(OH)–MgO, and α‐Al 2 O 3 –MgO mixtures were milled at room temperature under air atmosphere. The formation of MgAl 2 O 4 occurred faster with γ‐Al 2 O 3 than with AlO(OH) or α‐Al 2 O 3 . After 140 h, the mechanochemical treatment of the γ‐Al 2 O 3 –MgO mixture yielded 99% of MgAl 2 O 4 .