Effect of sintering process and additives on the properties of cordierite based ceramics

It is possible to obtain cordierite ceramics with high temperature synthesis using both synthetic and raw natural materials. This paper discusses the possibilities to obtain cordierite ceramics, replacing part of required oxides with raw materials from various Latvian deposits of dolomite and clay. The obtained raw cordierite powders were ground in two modes (3 and 12 hours) and fired at 1200 °C. Ceramic samples were characterized by hydrostatic weighting method; crystalline phase composition was studied by XRD. Obtained samples were evaluated by their mechanical (compressive) strength and linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Thermal shock resistance was tested using water quenching method and afterwards evaluated by using ultrasonic method to test changes in Young's modulus of elasticity. Results show that increase in grinding time causes samples to densify and promote formation of cordierite crystalline phase which corresponds to increase in total compressive strength and decrease of CTE values. CTE values of samples ground for 12 hours conform to that of obtained in other researches.