Sintering of anorthite based ceramics prepared from kaolin DD2 and calcite (Sinterização de cerâmicas à base de anortita preparadas com caulim DD2 e calcita)

In this work, the preparation of anorthite based ceramics using a modified milling system and 80 wt% kaolin (DD2 type) and 20 wt% calcium oxide extracted from CaCO3 is shown. The choice of these raw materials was dictated by their natural abundance. Previous studies have shown that a simple and vibratory multidirectional milling system using a bimodal distribution of highly resistant ceramics can be successfully used for obtaining fine powders. The prepared samples were sintered at different temperatures ranging between 800 and 1100 °C. It has been found that the relative density of samples sintered at 900 °C for 1 h with a heating rate of 5 °C/min was about 96% of the theoretical density of anorthite (2.75 g/cm3). Finally, the prepared samples were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.