Effect of additives on properties of aluminium titanate ceramics

The influence of some additives on bulk density, phase composition, mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance of aluminium titanate (AT) ceramics was investigated. AT ceramics with different additives of MgO, SiO2 and Fe2O3 were prepared by reaction sintering. Properties of AT ceramics were tested by using Archimedes, three-point bending and thermal cycling tests. It was found that additives of MgO, SiO2 and Fe2O3 or their compound additives are favorable to reduce the porosities of AT, enhance mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance. The role of additives can be rationalized in terms of promotion of sintering process, formation of new phases and influence on lattice constant c of AT ceramics.