Fabrication of dense cordierite ceramic through reducing Al2O3 mole ratio

Abstract

Dense cordierite ceramic was fabricated through reducing Al2O3 mole ratio from 2.0 to 1.4. The effect of the content of Al2O3 on crystalline phases, sintering characteristics and microstructures were studied. The green bodies, made of kaolin, attapulgite and basic magnesium carbonate, were sintered at 1200°C. The result suggests that reducing the Al2O3 mole ratio can fabricate dense cordierite ceramic. At 1200°C, cordierite became the main crystallization phase with a little of sapphirine. With the Al2O3 mole ratio decreasing, the shrinkage and bulk density increased but porosity reduced. When the mole ratio of Al2O3 reduced to 1.4 and sintered at 1200°C, the bulk density tends to the maximum value of 2.50kg/m3.