Synthesis of Al2O3/SiC composite materials from waste clay brick powder

Using waste clay refractories as raw materials and anthracite coal as a reducer, Al2O3/SiC composite materials were synthesized by carbon thermal reduction reaction. The synthesis process and its influencing factors were investigated. The results show that Al2O3/SiC composite materials can be synthesized from waste clay brick under the condition of proper C/SiO2 mole ratio over 1600°C. Increasing synthesis temperature and prolonging soaking time are beneficial to the reaction process and choosing raw materials with small grain size and adding suitable catalyst can also assist the reaction process. SEM results demonstrated that SiC phase distributed uniformly in the corundum phase in the Al2O3/SiC composite materials.