Influence of Bi2O3 on sintering and crystallization of cordierite ceramics

The influence of Bi2O3 on the process of cordierite ceramics preparation, 2MgO-2Al2O3-5SiO2 (MAS) was investigated. The following binary systems were used for the presented research: MgO/Bi2O3 (sintered at 820?C and 1100?C), Al2O3/Bi2O3 and SiO2/Bi2O3 (sintered at 1100?C). The composition of these systems consisted of 80% of oxide and 20% Bi2O3. The effects of sintering, composition and morphology were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and EDS analysis. It has been found that Bi2O3, besides a liquid phase, forms intermediary unstable compounds with MgO and Al2O3. MAS ceramics were sintered with 10% Bi2O3 at 1000?C, 1100?C and 1200?C. .