Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
The morphological and phase composition changes during sintering of ultralight pure Al2O3 and Al2O3/TiO2 foams were investigated in the temperature range of 900–1600 °C in air. The titania (10 wt%) was incorporated during a nonhydrolytic foaming procedure to facilitate its uniform dispersion in the alumina matrix. The changes of linear shrinkage and related changes in effective density and porosity demonstrate a higher reactivity in the Al2O3/TiO2 foam. The formation of tialite phase in the Al2O3/TiO2 foams occurred below 1300 °C and remained stable during cooling under 1200 °C without stabilizers.