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 mu m 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 degrees 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 m(2) g(-1) after being heated at 1200 degrees C for 6 h. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.