ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Preparation and characterization of porous cordierite for potential use in cellular ceramics

Marta Valášková and Gražyna Simha Martynková

Nanotechnology Centre, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic

E-mail: marta.valaskova@vsb.cz

Received: 10 October 2008  Revised: 3 December 2008  Accepted: 4 December 2008

Abstract: Cordierite porous ceramics Z, X, and K were prepared using three mixtures of clay minerals: Z from kaolinite, talc, and aluminum hydroxide, X from kaolinite, talc, vermiculite, and aluminum hydroxide, and K from kaolinite, talc, and magnesium oxide. Ceramics were different in porosity, specific surface area, cordierite polymorphs, and secondary crystalline phases. Vermiculite influenced textural architecture of calcined cordierite ceramics X and predestinated crystallization of the high-temperature hexagonal α-cordierite with secondary minerals enstatite, spinel and corundum. Ceramics Z contained low-temperature orthorhombic β-cordierite, enstatite, and corundum, K was diphase of β-cordierite and forsterite. Total pore area (TPA) and specific surface area (SSA) of X, in spite of the higher porosity and the pore size distribution in the range of 300–1000 nm, were smaller in comparison with TPA and SSA of Z. Ceramics K retained high porosity, two maxima at 300–1000 nm and 50–200 nm in the pores size distribution, and the highest TPA and SSA compared to those observed in ceramics Z and X.

Keywords: clay minerals - cordierite - porous ceramics - structural properties

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-009-0028-4

Chemical Papers 63 (4) 445–449 (2009)