The non-isothermal kinetics of mullite formation in boehmite–zircon mixtures

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry Vol. 116; no. 2; pp. 795 - 803
• Main Authors: Belhouchet, H., Hamidouche, M., Torrecillas, R., Fantozzi, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.05.2014; Springer; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Activation energy; Aluminum oxide; Analytical Chemistry; Boehmite; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Differential thermal analysis; Endothermic reactions; Engineering Sciences; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Mullite; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Reaction kinetics; Three dimensional; Zircon; Zirconium; Zirconium oxide; DTA; Composites; Mullitization; Crystallization kinetics; Activation energy
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1588-2926; 1572-8943
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-013-3601-6

In this work, we studied the kinetics of mullite formation in different composites under non-isothermal conditions using DTA. Different composites based of mullite, alumina, zircon and zirconia were prepared by reaction sintering of boehmite (as alumina source) and zircon. Several mixtures were used while varying the percentage of the boehmite from 30 to 70 mass% with a step of 10. Five compositions marked as B30, B40, B50, B60 and B70 corresponding to boehmite–zircon ratios (mass%) of 30/70, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40 and 70/30 were fabricated and studied. The DTA conducted at heating rates of 10, 20 and 30 K min −1 showed an endothermic peak in all composites at about 1,603 K associated with mullite formation. The activation energies measured from non-isothermal treatments for five compositions (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mass% of boehmite) were 1,029, 1,085, 1,262, 1,508 and 1,321 kJ mol −1 , respectively. The n values (Avrami parameter) for all compositions are larger than 2.5, the mullite crystallization of these composites is followed by three-dimensional growth.