Synthesis of cordieritic materials using raw kaolin, bauxite, serpentinite/olivinite and magnesite

In this work it was investigated whether it is attainable to create cordieritic materials for possible uses in ceramic applications using combinations of bauxite, kaolin, serpentinite/olivinite and magnesite. For this reason various mixtures of selected samples for the synthesis of ceramic materials consisting mainly of cordierite, among other phases, were used. After appropriate processing, specimens prepared from the mixtures were fired at various temperatures up to 1350 °C. The ceramic materials resulted after firing, were investigated regarding their phases composition and physical properties of technological interest. On this way the creation of materials having interesting combinations of properties such as shrinkage (varied from 0.11% to 9.87%), porosity (varied from 0.6% to 38.5%), density (varied from 1.43 to 2.59 g/cm3), sufficient compressive strength (range of 13.1–31.0 MPa) and low coefficient of expansion (varied from 2.2 to 4.5⁎10−6/C) at high temperatures is achieved.