Electrical properties and microstructure fractal analysis of magnesium-modified aluminium-silicate ceramics

Abstract

The addition of Mg2(NO)3 and some active additives, composed of Al salts, to the mixtures of kaolinite and bentonite can provide clay compositions which, after sintering at high temperatures, produce very porous ceramics with microcrystalline and amorphous regions and highly developed metalized surfaces (mainly with magnesium surplus). Characterization of sintered samples was done before and after treatment in “synthetic water”, i.e. in aqueous solution of arsenic-salt. Microstructure investigations have revealed non-uniform and highly porous structure with broad distribution of grain size, specifically shaped grains and high degree of agglomeration. Electrical characterization was estimated by determining dielectric constant and electrical resistivity in function of active additives amount and sintering temperature. Fractal analysis has included determination of grain contour fractal dimension.