Mullite is the most important crystalline phase in fired products belonging to the Al2O3–SiO2 system, such as whiteware articles used in daily life (e.g., low- and high-temperature hard porcelain, sanitaryware, and structural clay products). Mullite has attracted increasing interest due to its excellent high-temperature strength and creep resistance, good chemical and thermal stability, low thermal expansion coefficient, and good dielectric properties. Mullitization has been a subject of extensive and controversial investigations. Mullite synthesis has not been elaborately described in previous books. This book comprehensively covers the synthesis and six types of phase transformation of mullite. Part 1 reviews previous research on synthesis of mullite gels, advantages and disadvantages of different chemical routes of synthesis, and phase transformation processes. Part 2 discusses the nature and characterization of spinel and mullite phases and different mechanisms of mullite formation, as conjectured by various researchers. Part 3 deals with critical analysis of the spinel and mullite phases and evolution of mullite formation routes. Every chapter is accompanied by detailed diagrams and a comprehensive list of references.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive presentation of six synthesis processes of mullite precursors, such as gelation, coprecipitation, diphasic gelation, codecomposition, and microcomposite processes, are shown.
- Comparison of phase evolution processes of spray pyrolysis, monophasic, polymeric, coprecipitated, diphasic precursors and composite mullite powders is established.
- Critical analysis of the results of DTA, XRD, IR, and MAS NMR of earlier researchers, as shown in Review part of the book, is included.
- Chemistry behind the hydrolysis reaction of different components in six synthesis processes of mullite precursors in achieving homogeneity is shown.
- Elaborate discussion of the characterization of Al-Si spinel and t-mullite based on studies of alkali leaching, TEM/EDS, QXRD, and lattice constant measurements is done.
- Remarkable of diagrams/graphics are included in each chapter.
