Influence of Sintering Temperature on Crystallization Behavior of Cordierite synthesized from Non-Stoichiometric Formulation

Abstract

Cordierite body with formulation of non-stoichiometric composition (2.5 MgO. 1.8 Al2O3. 5 SiO2) was synthesized using conventional techniques with standard raw materials. The sintering and crystallization behavior of the compositions was observed by Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermogravimetric Analysis (DTA/TG). The sequence of reaction and phase transformation was analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) technique and Rietveld structural refinement after sintering the samples at different temperature regarding the information from the DTA. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for morphology analysis. The DTA curve shows the crystallization temperature, Tc occur at 1259°C.Rietveld quantitative phase analysis results reveal that α phase Cordierite constitutes up to 96.4 wt% when the samples was sintered for 2 hours at the optimal temperature of 1375°C. The SEM micrograph revealed that the sample was heat treated at 1375°C obtained densified body with well alignment of crystal structure.