Synthesis of cordierite by dolomite and kaolinitic clay chlorination. Study of the phase transformations and reaction mechanism

P.OROSCO; M. DEL C. RUIZ; J. GONZALEZ

POWDER TECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 267 p. 111 - 118

0032-5910

The focus of analysis in thiswork has been the study of the synthesis of cordierite using a pyrometallurgical route which involved thermal treatment in a chlorine atmosphere of a kaolinitic clay and dolomite mixture as rawmaterial. The reaction mechanism was also investigated. Isothermal and non-isothermal chlorination assays were conducted in experimental equipment adapted for working in corrosive atmospheres. The temperature effect on the reactions yielding cordieritewere studied. Both reagents and productswere analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The experimental results have shown that cordierite starts to be produced at 700 °C, and that the elimination of iron, which is present as an impurity, begins at about 700 °C. The most favorable chlorination temperaturewas 900 °C, since at this temperature a selective production of cordierite and an efficient elimination of iron were achieved.