The preparation of cordierite from talc, fly ash, fused silica and alumina mixtures

In this study, cordierite ceramic was synthesized using a composition prepared by the mixture of four different materials: a talc, fly ash, fused silica and alumina. The formation of cordierite was achieved with the solid-state sintering reactions at 1350 °C for 1 h. The synthesized powder has been characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), differential thermal analyzer (DTA), and the Rietveld analysis. The XRD analysis results showed the hexagonal or α-cordierite (indialite) as a major phase along with MgAl2O4 spinel and cristobalite as a secondary phase in the pressed mixture that sintered at 1300 °C for 3 h, while the only indialite phase was observed at 1350 °C for 3 h as well as 1375 °C for 1 h.