Thermal reactions of impure raw materials of talc, alumina and kaolin were investigated to obtain cordierite ceramics by the addition of various amounts of boron oxide as sintering aid. Mixed powders were uniaxially pressed and sintered at temperatures varying from 900 to 1300 oC for 1 to 10 hours soaking time. The sintering behavior and the properties of sintered ceramics were examined by density, porosity and shrinkage measurements and also by XRD phase analysis and microstructural examination and analysis by SEM. Boron oxide additions to talc based-cordierite ceramics significantly affected the cordierite formation temperature and also the sintering behavior. The cordierite formation temperature was lowered by around 150 oC. These temperatures were 1050 oC for MT-3 and 1200 oC for MT-0 for 3 hours sintering time.

Keywords: Cordierite, talc, kaolin, boron oxide, sintering, additives.