The relationship between the chemical composition and shell structure of cenospheres with a low bulk density of 0.40−0.45 g/cm 3 and a high Al 2 O 3 content of 33−38 wt % has been systematically studied. It was established that the composition of the narrow fractions of cenospheres can be described by the general regression equation SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 = 4.34 − 0.08[Al 2 O 3 ] with the correlation coefficient of r = −0.99. The phase composition includes the glass phase (57−73 wt %), mullite (25−40 wt %), and quartz (1.2−2.5 wt %). An increase in the Al 2 O 3 content leads to an increase in the size of particles and the porosity of their shells. In the obtained fractions of cenospheres, there are two types of globules: spherical globules with a singlering structure and foamy globules with a network structure. It is established that the composition of individual particles with a network structure localized in the range of the Al 2 O 3 content from 43 wt % to 51 wt % and can be described by the regression equation SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 = 2.71 − 0.04[Al 2 O 3 ] with the correlation coefficient of r = −0.97. The framework of these particles permeated by mullite microcrystallites and coated with a nanoscale surface film. The structure-forming mineral precursor of these particles is kaolinite. The gross composition of the shell of individual globules with a single-ring structure localized in the range of the Al 2 O 3 content from 26 wt % to 42 wt % and can be described by the general regression equation SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 = 4.71− 0.09[Al 2 O 3 ] with the correlation coefficient of r = −0.98. The outer and inner surfaces of the shell are covered by large and small in-plane localized mullite crystals hidden by the nanoscale film. The spherical shape and their crystalline framework are formed from the illite melt with inclusions of products of the thermal conversion of other mineral forms. ■ INTRODUCTIONIn the process of generating power from coal, large quantities of coal combustion products (CCPs) are produced. According to the various estimates, combustion of coal in the Russia alone generates ∼25 million tons of CCPs per year but utilization rate does not exceed 15%. 1 The complex composition of CCPs, including the fly ash, has proven to be a barrier to its bulk utilization in many fields. Extraction of concentrates of microspherical components with specific characteristics from fly ashes of variable composition provides wider opportunities for the multicomponent use of fly ashes produced from coal combustion. 2,3 The unique properties of cenospheres, namely, their low density, sphericity of particles, and high strength and nontoxicity, make them useful for a variety of fields of applications. Thus, concentrates of cenospheres are used as fillers of lightweight composite materials, such as concretes, 4,5 polymers and resins, 6−8 and metal alloys. 9,10 Also, they are been studied for the production of ceramic composite foams with different properties. 11,12 In recent years, new functional materials have been developed based on a d...

Microsphere materials for helium capture have been prepared on a base of narrow fractions of fly ash cenospheres.

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