A process for producing nano sized boehmite aluminas which are stable at alkaline pH values wherein an aqueous medium of a peptized boehmite alumina is treated with a water dispersible polycarboxylic acid polymer and optionally with an organic water dispersible base having a molecular weight ranging from 500 to 3000 and having no more than three basic groupings to produce a treated boehmite alumina which forms a stable sol at a pH of greater than 6, the treated boehmite alumina having a dispersed particle size of less than 500 nm in the sol.