The synthesis and properties of high-quality forsterite ceramics using desert drift sands to replace traditional raw materials

High-quality forsterite ceramics were successfully prepared using desert drift sands to replace the traditional materials at lower temperatures, which not only saves mineral resources but also greatly reduces the cost of ceramic. Meanwhile, the effects of two different proportions of drift sands on the phase formation, physical and mechanical properties of ceramics were also investigated. The experimental results show that drift sands with impurity cations have the lower melting temperature compared to the pure quartz and easy to form liquid phase. As a result, the formation temperature (800C) of forsterite phase falls by 300C compared to the forsterite ceramic prepared using analytical reagent (1100C). Furthermore, drift sands as raw materials can effectively improve the physical and mechanical properties of forsterite ceramics. Finally, the content of forsterite phase can reach up to 95.70 wt %, and the obtained forsterite ceramics show the best physical and mechanical properties when sintered at 1300C for 2 h.