Synthesis and characterization of cordierite ceramic through reaction sintering kaolin and spent magnesia-carbon bricks

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to study and characterization of a refractory material made of a mixture of natural raw material and spent refractory bricks. Relative weight ratios of 25/75 and 75/25 were studied in order to obtain cordierite ceramics having an important class in the field of refractories with the stoichiometric formula (2MgO. 2Al2O3. 5SiO2), by mixing the raw material of Kaolin with spent brick powder magnesia-carbon (MgO-C). The mixtures were sintered at 1200, 1300 and 1400°C for 2 h. The phase composition of the sintered samples was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity and density are presented and discussed. The results obtained reveal that when the level of spent brick is high ≥75%, the formation of only a spinel phase and periclase were observed, however where the kaolin level is predominant we observe the formation of the cordierite phase at 1300°C. The morphology obtained by SEM confirmed these results.