Papers by Author: Qi Hui Jia

Abstract: Based on the Al2O3-ZrO2-SiO2 system, the conventional pre-sintering samples were reheated by microwave to investigate the influence of microwave to the thermodynamic equilibrium and phase equilibrium relationships. It was found that microwave can accelerate transitions to thermodynamic equilibrium. The phase equilibrium of the samples prepared by microwave heating was identical with the traditional phase diagram. In addition, the amount of tetragonal zirconia in the prepared samples remained constant as the microwave heating time prolonging. All of the observed phenomenon can be explained by microwave nonthermal effects.

Abstract: Porous mullite was prepared from a reactive mixture of Al metal powder and the fly ash produced by power plant. The sintering ceramics was characterized for the pore structure and phase identification studies. It was found that the sintered specimen expands at first (1300-1400°C) and then shrinks which was correspondence to the changing of open porosity. The expansion was attributed to the fact that the alumina produced from the oxidation reaction of Al powder made the volume larger than the starting mixtures. At 1550°C, it was inferred that the alkaline element in the fly ash made the mullite decomposed then destroyed the mullite structure. The SEM photographs suggested us that the pore diameter of the sintered ceramics might be adjusted by adding Al powder with different grain sizes. Moreover, because of the rod-like mullite produced in the pores, Mg metal addition could develop the further modification of the pore structure with similar porosity (47% at 1400°C/4h) compared with that (53%) with 0wt % Mg metal powders.