Mechanochemical activation of 2MgO• 2Al2O3 • 5SiO2 system

Cordierite, 2MgO center dot 2Al(2)O(3) center dot 5SiO(2), due to its properties is very attractive material, particularly as an electronic ceramics. However, synthesis of cordierite by sintering required fairly high and narrow temperature range of 1300-1400 degrees C. In this work, preliminary investigation on the mechanochemical activation of powder mixture of starting components in stiochiometric ratio i.e. 2MgO center dot 2Al(2)O(3) center dot 5SiO(2) have been carried out in an attempt to decrease formation temperature of cordierite during the sintering process. The effects of mechanochemical activation have been followed by TG and DTA analysis. Specific surface of mechanochemically activated powder mixture up to 240 min of milling, have been measured by BET and Coulter Counter method. The kinetics of BET specific surface increase was analyzed by Boltzmann model. The effect of "aging' of mechanochemically activated powders has been investigated by FFT IR spectroscopy on the samples, storage in air for 24 h and 24 months, and it was revealed that samples did not show any significant changes after 24 months. From the results obtained in this study it may be expected that subsequent sintering process will be promoted whereby the formation temperature of cordierite will be decreased by such pretreatment of the starting cordierite mixture.