Production of forsterite from serpentine – Effects of magnesium chloride hexahydrate addition

• Published in: Advanced powder technology : the international journal of the Society of Powder Technology, Japan Japan, 2015-05, Vol.26 (3), p.947-953
• Main Authors: Emrullahoglu Abi, C.B., Gürel, S.B., Kılınç, D., Emrullahoglu, Ö.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Forsterite; Magnesium chloride hexahydrate; Reaction sintering; Serpentine; XRD
• ISSN: 0921-8831; 1568-5527
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2015.03.011

[Display omitted] •Forsterite produced using serpentine and MgCl2⋅6H2O.•Being a water soluble compound MgCl2⋅6H2O improved homogenization.•Ionic structure of the material improved the product properties.•MgCl2⋅6H2O caused better properties than those of MgO, Mg(OH)2 and MgCO3. In this paper, forsterite production via reaction sintering technique was presented. Experimental studies consist of three steps. In the first step mixture containing 57.62% serpentine, 42.38% magnesium chloride-water solution was first calcined in a furnace for chloride removal, ground and then shaped using dry pressing technique. In the second step the shaped samples were sintered in the range of 750–1400°C for 2h. In the third step firing shrinkage, water absorption and three point bending strength tests and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analysis were applied to the sintered samples. XRD analysis showed that forsterite phase formed in all of the sintered samples.