Influence of Mechanical Activation on the Constituents of the MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2 System

Cordierite, 2MgO2Al2O35SiO2, is a very attractive high-temperature ceramic material, due to its outstanding electrical characteristics, such as the low temperature expansion coefficient, low dielectric constant and good mechanical properties. In order to accelerate the process of sintering, 5.00 mass% TiO2 has been added to the starting mixtures. The mechanical activation of the starting mixtures was performed in a high energy ball mill during 0-80 minutes. The particle size analysis (PSA) was employed in order to determine the changes in the particle size of the mechanically treated powders. The phase composition of the starting powders was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction method. XRD showed decrease in peaks intensities and no new phases. Furthermore, differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used in order to determine characteristic temperatures within the system during heating. Based on the obtained DTA results, it was established that mechanical activation has some influence on temperatures of phase transitions