Microstructural study of synthetic spinel from natural raw materials

Conference · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:5011669

Chao, Y; Hagni, R D ^[1]; Caballero, A ^[2]; Moore, R E ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Missouri, Rolla, MO (United States). Dept. of Geology and Geophysics
2. Inst. de Ceramica y Vidrio, Madrid (Spain)
3. Univ. of Missouri, Rolla, MO (United States). Dept. of Ceramic Engineering

Alumina-magnesia spinel is being used increasingly as a high quality refractory in furnace and cement rotary kiln applications, but the costs of synthetic powders and grains limit its application. Different sources of bauxite from Guyana and China and diaspore from Missouri have been utilized to synthesize spinel for refractories in order to reduce the cost. The purpose of this research is to examine extent and character or spinel formation under different firing conditions and varying Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]:MgO ratios. Finely ground raw materials were mixed with hardburned magnesia in certain ratios to form spinel. X-ray analysis has been completed and shows that spinel readily occurs, after heating at 1,550 C, together with some impurity minerals such as mullite, rutile, corundum and some glassy phases. In order to study the microstructure, quantitative analysis, reflected light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and automatic image analysis are currently being utilized to determine the amount and distribution of each phase present in 39 samples prepared at different firing temperatures and with different chemical compositions. The results of this investigation provide a better understanding of the character of the microstructures of synthetic spinels.

• OSTI ID: 5011669
• Report Number(s): CONF-9303210--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 25:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
SPINELS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SYNTHESIS