Porous aluminum oxide structures and processes for their production

US6399528B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Andreas Krell
• Frank Buse · Stuttgart, DE
• Hongwei Ma · Beijing, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 5, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 5, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C04B38/00
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a porous aluminum oxide structure comprising Al2O3 and Zr, the structure having an open porosity greater than about 30% and an average pore size from about 20 nm to about 1000 nm, wherein the Zr, expressed as ZrO2, has a concentration less than about 5 weight % of the weight of the Al2O3. The present invention also relates to a process for producing a porous aluminum oxide structure comprising Al2O3 and Zr, the structure having an open porosity greater than about 30% and an average pore size from about 20 to about 1000 nm, through doping alumina or precursors thereof with a doping effective amount of Zr, wherein the Zr, expressed as ZrO2, has a concentration less than about 5 weight % of the weight of the Al2O3, the process comprising: introducing the Zr into the alumina or the precursors thereof, the Zr being selected from at least one ZrO2 powder, a solution of a Zr precursor, or mixtures thereof, by admixing the Zr with the alumina or the precursors thereof, forming a green body, drying the green body, and sintering the dried body to produce the porous aluminum oxide structure.