Fe3+-assisted formation of α-Al2O3, starting from sol–gel precursors

The role of Fe3+ ions in the transformations from boehmites and pseudoboehmite xerogels via transition aluminas to corundum was studied here. Especially, the active iron species responsible for the decrease of the temperature of transformation to corundum were looked for. To enable the formation of various Fe3+ and Fe2+ species, samples were subjected to thermal treatments in different atmospheres as well as mechanically activated. Thermal analysis and ESR spectroscopy served to follow the processes and to characterise the resulting products. It was found that (i) isolated Fe3+ ions can indicate local structural changes but have (almost) no influence on the temperature of corundum formation, (ii) the temperature of corundum formation decreases in the result of action of small α-Fe2O3 particles and (iii) during thermal treatments Fe3+ ions are distributed between different phases or precursors thereof: transition aluminas, corundum, Fe2O3, and a Fe3+ pool.