Cordierite (2MgO•2Al2O3•5SiO2) synthesis by unconventional methods

The cordierite was synthesized by two unconventional methods: 1) the method which uses hydrosilicate precursors and 2) the method which uses organic precursors. Comparison of these synthesis methods with the classical one is the main subject of the presented paper. The influence of Li2O on the cordierite phase formation was investigated too. The results have suggested that the method which uses hydrosilicate precursors provides the SiO2 linkage as magnesium metasilicate, but is not adequate for the cordierite synthesis. Only in the presence of Li2O considerably amount of the μ-cordierite modification was formed, confirming the mineralizing effect of this oxide. In addition, the results have clearly demonstrated that the method which uses organic precursors is suitable for the cordierite synthesis. Thus, even without mineralizer it can be used for the preparation of the almost pure α-cordierite at 1200°C. Because of that this method was used to obtain pigments with cordierite structure, in which Al3+ was partially substituted with Cr3+ (pink pale colour), and Mg2+ was partially substituted with Co2+ (blue colour).