Effect of Holding Time on the Phase Formation and Microstructure of Mullite Synthesized at 1200C
Destia Nurika (a*), Budhy Kurniawan (a*), Muhamad Ikhlasul Amal (b*), Agus Sukarto Wismogroho (b)

a) Department of Physics, University of Indonesia, Depok Indonesia
*destia.nurika[at]ui.ac.id
*budhy.kurniawan[at]sci.ui.ac.id
b) Research Center for Advanced Materials National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang Indonesia
*muha089[at]brin.go.id
agus109[at]brin.go.id

Abstract

Mullite is a crucial ceramic material known for its excellent thermal and mechanical stability making it a promising candidate for high temperature applications. This study aims to evaluate the effect of holding time variation on the phase formation and microstructural evolution of mullite synthesized at 1200C. The precursor powders were sintered for 2 4 and 6 hours and the samples were characterized using X ray Diffraction XRD and Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM. XRD analysis revealed that the holding time variation had no significant effect on the diffraction patterns indicating that mullite phase formation occurred consistently from the earliest holding time of 2 hours. However SEM observations of the 2 hour sample showed coarse and inhomogeneous particle morphology suggesting incomplete crystal growth. These results indicate that while the mullite phase forms early during sintering the refinement and development of the microstructure are still influenced by the duration of heat treatment.

Keywords: Mullite- Holding time- Microstructure morphology

Topic: Material Physics