MECHANICAL ACTIVATION OF ULTRAFINE CORDIERITE: EFFECT OF GRINDING TIME

In these studies, cordierite was mechanically synthesized after a sol-gel process. The effect of milling time of cordierite was investigated. Aluminium nitrate nonahydrate, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) were used as starting materials. Gels obtained were mechanically activated in planetary ball mill by at 300rpm grinding speed and grinding time (15min, 30min, 45min and 60min). Powders produced were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX). XRD analysis proved that α-cordierite was formed at lower temperature (1200°C) as compliment to without grinding, whereby it is formed at1300°C. FESEM analysis shows the size of the cordierite were in submicron scale. EDX analysis proved that magnesium, aluminium, silicon and oxygen are elements existed in cordierite. ABSTRA