Preparation and Characterization of Porous Cordierite Ceramics with Well-distributed Interconnected Pores

Abstract

Porous cordierite ceramics with well-distributed interconnected pores were prepared by pore forming in situ technique coordinated with adding pore forming agent. The phase, microstructure, strength and gas permeability were investigated through X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry measurement, etc. The proper sintering temperature was found to be 1360°C when the porous cordierite ceramics were fabricated through pore forming in situ technique. The porous cordierite ceramics sintered at 1360°C has high cordierite phase content, high apparent porosity (40.3%), homogeneous pore size distribution and interconnected pores, thus the porous cordierite ceramics also has high compressive strength (54.5 MPa) and high gas permeability (2.31 m2). With the addition of sawdust as pore forming agent, the porosity and the gas permeability of the porous cordierite ceramics sintered at 1360°C increased, however, the strength decreased. For example, addition of 6% sawdust resulted in 47.9% porosity, 4.61 m2 gas permeability, while the compressive strength was reduced to 23.6 MPa.