Abstract
In the present study, coal fly ash was used as the main starting material (80.74 wt.%) in the production of the cordierite-based ceramics by benefiting from its high contents of silica and alumina. The phase evolutions and the properties of sintered materials in the range of 900–1200 °C were investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compressive strength, bulk density, and apparent porosity. The results revealed that the increase in firing temperature from 900 °C to 1200 °C induced the transformation of coal fly ash components and the magnesium oxide into cordierite with high purity. The formation of the cordierite at 1200 °C involved the densification of the ceramic body and the decrease in the apparent porosity to 22%. The compressive strength was improved with the increase in sintering temperature and reached a maximum of 128 MPa. The obtained cordierite-based ceramics exhibited a thermal conductivity of 1.12 W/m.K, along with high mechanical properties, which promoted its applications for thermal insulators. Also, the dielectric constant (e = 9.5 at 1 MHz) measurements indicated that the cordierite-based ceramics from coal fly ash can be useful for electrical insulators.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
