Journal of Textile Research ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (04): 71-79.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20250804401

• Fiber Materials • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preparation of ultra-high temperature resistant Al2O3-based ceramic fibers and their forming mechanism

LI Shouzhen1,2, ZHA Tiantian3, ZHOU Weitao3, SI Yang4()   

  1. 1 College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
    2 College of Art and Design, Nantong Vocational University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
    3 Research Institute of Textile and Clothing Industries, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, China
    4 Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
  • Received:2025-08-20 Revised:2026-01-15 Online:2026-04-15 Published:2026-06-24
  • Contact: SI Yang E-mail:yangsi@dhu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Objective Ceramic fibrous materials have the advantages of high temperature resistance, high strength, and excellent oxidation resistance, with wide applications in aerospace, new energy vehicles, oil-water separation and other fields. Due to the sudden increase in grain size and defects in Al2O3-based fibers materials at ultra-high temperatures, the brittleness of the fibers limited their use in extreme environments. In this research, ZrO2 is used as an inhibitor of Al2O3 crystal growth to slow down the crystal growth rate, aiming at the preparation of ultra-high temperature resistant Al2O3-based fibers through centrifugal spinning and calcination, providing new method for the development of ceramic fibers.

Method Al2O3 precursor sols were prepared by sol-gel technology and Al2O3 precursor gel fibers were prepared by centrifugal spinning, and the viscosity of spinning solution was adjusted by adding polymer. Clear and transparent Al2O3 precursor sols were prepared from organic Al salt, Al strong acid salt and solvent water, and then the formation mechanism of Al2O3-based fibers were studied. The Al2O3 gel fibers were obtained by drawing spinning solution using centrifugal force. The influence of spinning solutions on gel fibers and calcined fibers were analysed, indicating that the higher spinning solution temperature led to the better temperature resistance of the obtained fiber.

Results Al2O3-based fibers were fabricated by sol-gel centrifugal spinning and calcination method, First, the formation mechanism of Al precursor sols was studied, with water playing the role of solvent, AIP and AlCl3·6H2O as the Al sources, CH2O7Zr2 as the Zr sources, PVP as the polymer to regulate the spinning solution viscosity. AIP was dissolved in aluminum chloride aqueous solution to form a homogeneous system, which avoids the application of organic solvents and reduces the production cost and reduces the pollution to the external environment. Then, the forming mechanism of Al2O3-based fibers, influence of spinning solution temperature on gel fibers and Al2O3-based fibers were discussed. The spinning fluid of Al2O3 precursor was thrown out fast by centrifugal force and rapidly formed in air. Al2O3 and ZrO2 precursor colloidal particles were rapidly hydrolyzed and condensed to form precursor sol fibers. The organic components in precursor gel fibers were removed by calcination to obtain Al2O3-based fibers. After calcination, the average diameter of gel fiber was reduced to as low as 1.88 μm. The changes in the crystal structure of Al2O3 during the calcination process were monitored using XRD, and the Al2O3-based fibers exhibited an amorphous microstructure below 1 000 ℃. The spinning fluid temperature was inversely proportional to the diameter, showing that the higher the temperature the smaller the diameter of gel fiber. The temperature of the spinning solution affected the particle composition of the fibers. It was found that higher temperature of the spinning fluid resulted in smaller particles that formed the fibers.

Conclusion Al2O3-based fibers were fabricated by sol-gel method combined with centrifugal spinning and calcination technology, and the spinning fluid temperature and calcination temperature were optimized to prepare Al2O3-based fibers materials with smooth surface and fine grain size. The average diameter of the Al2O3-based fibers samples prepared was as low as 1.88 μm, indicating that Al2O3-based fibers were successfully prepared, and the fiber diameter was adjustable in the range of 1.88-20.40 μm. The Al2O3-based fibers exhibited excellent high temperature resistance. When the calcination temperature reached 1 300 ℃, the particles that formed the fibers were very small and could be used as thermal protection materials in aerospace, high-temperature filtration, and other fields.

Key words: inorganic fiber, ceramic fiber, Al2O3-based fiber, ultra-high temperature resistance, crystal structure, spinning temperature

CLC Number: 

  • TQ343.5

Fig.1

Preparation process of Al2O3-based fiber"

Fig.2

Morphology of Al2O3-based fibers. (a) Al2O3-based fibers; (b) Cross-section"

Fig.3

SEM images and EDS mapping of Al2O3-based fibers. (a) Al2O3-based fibers SEM image; (b) Al element; (c) Zr element; (d) O element"

Fig.4

TG curves of Al2O3 precursor gel fibers"

Fig.5

Effects of calcination temperature on crystalline structure of Al2O3-based fibers"

Fig.6

Effects of spinning solution temperature on morphology of gel fibers"

Fig.7

Fiber diameter distribution at different spinning solution temperatures"

Fig.8

Effects of spinning solution temperature on morphology of fibers after calcination at 1 000 ℃"

Fig.9

Diameter distribution of calcined fibers at different spinning solution temperatures (calcination temperature of 1 000 ℃)"

Fig.10

Effects of spinning solution temperature on morphology after calcination (calcination temperature of 1 300 ℃)"

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