The mechanism of phase formation of a ceramic binder in the cordierite-spodumene system obtained from natural components

The article describes the synthesis process as well as the mechanism of phase formation of a ceramic binder in the cordierite ‒ spodumene system that consists of kaolin, talc, alumina, pyrophyllite and lithium carbonate; the described binder is intended for the production of porous ceramics based on silicon carbide. Melting and crystallization temperature ranges of the cordierite ‒ spodumene composition have been established as 1070‒1225 and 1252‒1264 °C, respectively. The formation of the primary melt occurs in the eucryptitelithium metasilicate system at a temperature of 1070 °C; with a further rise in temperature, the components begin to dissolve. The sizes of cordierite crystals in the resulting ceramic binder range between 2‒5 microns, the spodumene crystals are 200‒400 nm in diameter. Ill. 9. Ref. 27. Tab. 2.