The effect of talc on the reaction sintering, microstructure and physical properties of Al2TiO5 based ceramics

Tialite (Al2TiO5) is a ceramic material of very low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent thermal shock resistance, high refractoriness and good corrosion resistance. However, industrial applications of this material are hindered by two major limitations: decomposition to its parent oxides, alumina and rutile between 800 and 1280 degrees C and its low thermal mechanical properties. In the present study addition of talc with a good stabilizing effect has been studied on aluminum-titanate (tialite)-based ceramics. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the effect of talc on phase evolutions, sintering, and the microstructure of aluminum-titanate, and also density measurements were performed after sintering. The results showed that the presence of talc reduces the unreacted alumina and rutile significantly. The formation of MgO0.3Al1.4Ti1.3O5 and other solid solutions of MgO and aluminum-titanate were observed.