The synthesis and formation of Sr4Al6O12SO4 in the system SrCO3-Al2O3-SrSO4 has been studied in the range of temperatures from 800 oC to 1400 oC using X-ray diffraction, thermo gravimetric, differential thermal and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Pellets of a mixture of 3 : 3 : 1 molar ratio of reactive grade Al2O3, SrCO3 and SrSO4 respectively were prepared, by solid state sintering, the reactive powders were thoroughly mixed under high energy ball-milling, uniaxially pressed into cylindrical samples and pressureless-sintered. Additionally the densities of some samples that were heat treated for 10 h at 1200, 1300 and 1400 oC were determined by the Archimedes method. The powder mixture was analyzed by TGA and DTA from room temperature to 1200 oC. XRD patterns indicated the formation of Sr3Al2O6 and SrAl2O4 as intermediate phases that nearly at the end of the process reacted with SrSO4 to form Sr4Al6O12SO4. The formation of Sr4Al6O12SO4 was complete at 1150 oC as XRD and DTA analysis indicated. An increase in the heat treatment time promotes the formation of Sr4Al6O12SO4 at lower temperatures. The Sr4Al6O12SO4 powders were composed of spherical particles of small agglomerates. Results of density measurement indicated that only 80% of the theoretical density was reached for a treatment at 1400 oC of 10 h, which indicated the difficulty to obtain a dense material.

Keywords: Synthesis, Sr4Al6O12SO4 compound, Solid State Reaction, SrCO3-Al2O3-SrSO4 syst