Mechanochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Powder at Room Temperature

Abstract

MgAl2O4 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‐Al2O3–MgO, AlO(OH)–MgO, and α‐Al2O3–MgO mixtures were milled at room temperature under air atmosphere. The formation of MgAl2O4 occurred faster with γ‐Al2O3 than with AlO(OH) or α‐Al2O3. After 140 h, the mechanochemical treatment of the γ‐Al2O3–MgO mixture yielded 99% of MgAl2O4.