Synthesis of a forsterite powder by combined ball milling and thermal treatment

Using powder mixtures of NH4-exchanged zeolite A and MgO as starting materials, forsterite was obtained as the final phase. The preparation procedure consisted of two steps: high-energy ball milling and thermal treatment. Ball milling was applied to amorphise NH4-exchanged zeolite A, to reduce the particle size of MgO, and to mix these two components. Thermal treatment of the milled mixture above 900degreesC for 3 h yielded forsterite as a dominant phase. Small amount of minor phases appeared beside forsterite. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.