Alumina nanofibers are very suitable materials for use as reinforcement in a great variety of high performance composite materials. Nanosized alumina fibers were prepared from the aluminum chloride hydroxide/poly (vinyl alcohol)/water precursor using the electrospinning technique. The mass ratio of aluminum chloride hydroxide/polymer was 5/1. The fibers were calcinated at 1100 degrees C. The fibers were characterized by the TGA/DTA, XRD and FESEM methods. Calcinated fibers had a mean diameter of 470 nm and corundum well defined crystal structure. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.