Aluminium hydroxides have been precipitated from various aluminium salts and the differences in their thermal behaviour have been investigated. Pseudoboehmite derived from the nitrate, sulfate and chloride all form γ-Al₂O₃ at ∼ 400°C but the formation of α-A1₂O₃ at 1200°C occurs more readily in the material derived from the sulfate. This contains a higher concentration of anionic impurities related to differences in the solubility of the original aluminium salts. The sulfate is retained in the gel to higher temperatures at which its eventual decomposition may lead to the formation of a reactive pore structure which facilitates the nucleation of α-A1₂O₃.

𝑀-type hexagonal ferrite precursor was prepared by a soft mechanochemical treatment of BaCO₃ and 𝛼-FeOOH mixtures. The effect of milling on its structure and thermal behaviour was examined by XRD, SEM and FTIR. Well crystallized 𝑀-type hexagonal ferrite was formed from just 1 h milled precursors at 800°C. The beneficial effect of milling was explained in terms of increased homogeneity with simultaneous hetero bridging bond formation between powder constituents.

Pure and silicon-coated metal copper nano to submicron-sized powders were prepared by gas evaporation and condensation. This powder was synthesized by using an industrial electron accelerator, ELV-6, with Ar as the carrier gas. Vapour from the liquefied metal surface was transferred to the cold zone by the carrier gas and precipitated as spherical Cu metal and Si/Cu composite powders. The mean diameter of the resulting powder was 100–200 nm.