Influence of mechanical activation on the MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 system with TeO2

Cordierite 2MgO+2Al2O3+5SiO2 is frequently used ceramic material, that is commonly used as a carrier of electrical components due to its low dielectric constant (~ 5), and low temperature thermal expansion coefficient (20•10-7 ºC-1). In order to accelerate the process of sintering, 5.00 mass% TeO2 was added to the starting mixtures. System was tested in two parallel mixtures, one with no added additives, and the other one with TeO2. The mechanical activation of the both mixtures was performed in a high-energy ball mill in time intervals from 0 to 40 min with ball to powder mass ratio 1:40. The particle size analysis (PSA) was employed in order to determine the changes in the particle size of the mechanically treated powders. The phase composition of the starting powders as well as microstructures was analyzed by the means of X-ray diffraction method and SEM.