Preparation of cordierite from high-alumina fly ash

Fly ash is a potential resource. Utilization of the fly ash with high value-added products is a hot issue in the present. In this paper, using the high-alumina fly ash collected from the Jungar power plant mixed with a small amount of talc powder, sintering of cordierite was conducted by solid-phase reaction. The physical properties of the sintered cordierite samples were determined by water displacement method. The phase composition and the microstructure of the cordierite samples were analyzed with XRD and SEM. The results show that based on the proportion of the fly ash and talc powder designated as 1.6288 : 1, the cordierite samples could be manufactured at the 1350°C and 1370°C for 2 h or/and 3 h, and its physical properties could meet the quality requirements of commercial cordierite. The major phases of the cordierite samples are α-cordierite (indialite); meanwhile, the minor phases are a lesser amount of anorthite and spinel with almost no glass matter.