Preparation and Characterization of Porous Cordierite Ceramics with Well-distributed Interconnected Pores

Abstract

Porous cordierite ceramics with well-distributed interconnected pores were prepared by pore forming in situ technique coordinated with adding pore forming agent. The phase, microstructure, strength and gas permeability were investigated through X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry measurement, etc. The proper sintering temperature was found to be 1360°C when the porous cordierite ceramics were fabricated through pore forming in situ technique. The porous cordierite ceramics sintered at 1360°C has high cordierite phase content, high apparent porosity (40.3%), homogeneous pore size distribution and interconnected pores, thus the porous cordierite ceramics also has high compressive strength (54.5 MPa) and high gas permeability (2.31 m²). With the addition of sawdust as pore forming agent, the porosity and the gas permeability of the porous cordierite ceramics sintered at 1360°C increased, however, the strength decreased. For example, addition of 6% sawdust resulted in 47.9% porosity, 4.61 m² gas permeability, while the compressive strength was reduced to 23.6 MPa.

Keywords:

• Porous ceramics
• Cordierite
• Well-distributed interconnected pore
• Strength
• Gas permeability