Reactive sintering and microstructure of uniform, openly porous Al2TiO5

Uniform, openly porous Al2TiO5, with a narrow pore-size distribution was prepared by reactive sintering. The effect of different starting powders, commercially available α-Al2O3, γ-Al2O3, TiO2 anatase, and TiO2 rutile powders, used as the starting materials, is discussed. Four combinations of Al2O3 and TiO2 mixed powders were reactively sintered at 1300–1500 °C for 2 h in air. The sample, made from the γ-Al2O3/TiO2 rutile powder sintered at 1350 °C, had a narrow pore-size distribution at 0.8 μm, moderate fracture strength and low thermal expansion which were favorable for recyclable household water-purification filters.