Sintering-resistant hollow fibers of LaMgAl11O19 prepared by electrospinning

Lanthanum magnesium hexaaluminate (LMA) is very important ceramic material for catalytic combustion of natural gas. The sintering-resistant hollow fibers of LMA with diameters ranging from 1 to 3 μm were fabricated from alcoholic solutions containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and aqueous solution of lanthanum, magnesium and aluminum nitrates. The interaction between PVP and nitrates were studied by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transmission-infrared spectroscopy. The forming mechanism of hollow fibers and the sintering ability of hollow LaMgAl11O19 fibers were discussed. The formation of magnetoplumbite structure of LMA was observed above 1100 °C. The LMA fibers stacked randomly, resulting in a weak contact among the fibers, and such a structure exhibits a strong resistance to sintering at high temperatures. The fibers still have specific surface areas of 6.9 m2 g−1 after being heated at 1200 °C for 6 h.