Carboxylate-alumoxanes are organic substituted alumina nano-particles synthesized from boehmite in aqueous solution which are an inexpensive and environmentally benign precursor for the fabrication of nano-, meso-, and macro-scale aluminum based ceramics. The use of carboxylate-alumoxanes as a novel high surface area alumina support for heterogeneous catalysis will be discussed. The ability to perform further chemistry on the organic ligands of the carboxylate-alumoxanes allows for attachment of catalysts. During calcination, the organic ligands are burned out, leaving behind the catalyst in a well-dispersed manner. To demonstrate this concept, the metathesis of C16 olefins using a molybdenum oxide catalyst supported on alumina will be discussed using the carboxylate-alumoxane method.

Chemically functionalized alumina nanoparticles (carboxylate-alumoxanes) are used as the inorganic component of a new class of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. Lysine-or parahydroxybenzoic acid-derivatized alumoxanes are readily prepared from the reaction of boehmite, [AI(O)(OH)]n, with the appropriate carboxylic acid. The peripheral organic hydroxides and amines of these carboxylate-alumoxanes either react directly with epoxide resins, such as the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DER 332), to form a hybrid material, or in the presence of an organic resin and hardener system to form a composite material. SEM and AFM show a uniform distribution of alumina nanoparticles within the resin matrix. The properties and cure times of the alumoxane hybrid and composite materials are distinct from both the pure resins and from a physical blend of the resins with traditional ceramic fillers. A significant increase in thermal stability and tensile strength is observed for both the hybrid and composite resin systems. In addition, both carbon fiber and carbon/Kevlar® matting have been successfully incorporated into the hybrid resin systems resulting in further property improvements.