Studies on the Densification and Strengthening of Porous Mullite Ceramic in the Presence of Titania Additive

Abstract: Porous mullite was prepared using clay and alumina, with naphthalene used as a pore former. Titania additives of 2, 4 and 6 mass-% were used to improve strength, mullitization and sintering. The additive accelerates the mullite phase formation process by entering into the mullite grain by solid solution formation. The additive was also found to be beneficial as it entered into the glassy phase, reduced the high-temperature viscosity of the glass and thereby helped with sintering. An aluminium titanate phase was noted in the presence of a higher quantity of additive.