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Reaction sintering and microstructural evolution in metakaolin-metastable alumina composites

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Abstract

Fine needles of mullite grains were obtained successfully in a compact and low porous matrix using solid state sintering. We treated high-grade kaolin and sand-rich kaolin at 750 °C to amorphous metakaolins, and bauxite at 1,000 °C to metastable alumina. By designing a stochiometric composition of mullite, each amorphous metakaolin was added to metastable alumina. Fine grains of mullite with almost complete crystallization were obtained from 1,350 °C in a case of amorphous metakaolin from high-grade kaolin and at 1,550 °C in the other case where amorphous metakaolin is from sand-rich kaolin. The difference in the temperatures of mullitization was linked to the late dissolution of silica from the cristobalite and quartz phases which were still present in the sand-rich metakaolin sample at 1,350 °C. The use of metastable alumina and metakaolin instead of kaolin to design the mullite matrix allows the increase in number of mullite nucleation sites. This results to high densification and crystallization, fine grain size, and high mechanical properties of the final matrix.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Inorganic Chemistry, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Chantale Njiomou Djangang, Arlin Bruno Tchamba, Uphie Chinje Melo & Antoine Elimbi

  2. Laboratory of Materials, MIPROMALO, P.O. Box 2396, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Arlin Bruno Tchamba, Elie Kamseu & Uphie Chinje Melo

  3. Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vignolese 905/A, 41125, Modena, Italy

    Elie Kamseu, Anna Maria Ferrari & Cristina Leonelli

Authors
  1. Chantale Njiomou Djangang
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  2. Arlin Bruno Tchamba
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  3. Elie Kamseu
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  4. Uphie Chinje Melo
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  5. Antoine Elimbi
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  6. Anna Maria Ferrari
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  7. Cristina Leonelli
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Correspondence to Chantale Njiomou Djangang.

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Djangang, C.N., Tchamba, A.B., Kamseu, E. et al. Reaction sintering and microstructural evolution in metakaolin-metastable alumina composites. J Therm Anal Calorim 117, 1035–1045 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3937-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3937-6

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