Novel routes to metalloorganics containing aluminum from minerals.

Abstract

Novel pathways for synthesizing Al metalloorganics directly from widely available oxides and oxo-hydroxides of aluminum are developed. The Al metalloorganics are then used to produce low-cost precursors for ceramics and polymers containing Al. Alumatrane, an unique, air-stable, aluminum alkoxide is prepared in one step from aluminum hydroxide in quantitative yields. Subsequently, alumatrane was used to prepare and characterize all group II dialuminate ceramics (MAl$\rm\sb2O\sb4,$ M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). Similarly, an air-stable alkoxide of silicon was synthesized directly from SiO$\sb2,$ and is used in conjunction with alumatrane to produce precursors for aluminosilicate ceramics (MAlSiO$\sb4,$ M = K, Li, Na). Aluminum formate is synthesized, in differing efficiencies, from different crystalline minerals of Al, by direct dissolution in formic acid. A few other aluminum carboxylates are also synthesized, either directly from minerals or from aluminum formates, thus expanding the scope of the acid dissolution of aluminum hydroxides. Aluminum allyloxypropanoate (AAP) (Al(O$\rm\sb2CCH\sb2CH\sb2OCH{=}CH\sb2)\sb2$(OH)), an aluminum carboxylate with a polymerizable group has been synthesized from aluminum formate. This, has been incorporated into methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymers to impart fire retardancy. The increase in char yields as a result of AAP incorporation, indicate improved fire retardancy. Fire retardant characteristics of alumatrane has also been investigated, in MMA polymers and in a polyurethane polymer, taking char yields as a measure of fire retardance efficiency.