Porous Materials Prepared by Sintering Basalt Fiber with CuS and ZrO2 Additions and Containing a Rigid System of Microfiltration Transport Pores

Abstract

Porous ceramic materials have been prepared from BS16-6-76 chopped basalt fiber with CuS and ZrO2 additions by granulation, pressing, and subsequent sintering in air. Computer-controlled X-ray diffraction measurements have been used to carry out profile analysis and assess the qualitative and relative quantitative phase compositions of the materials. We have identified the sequence of phase transformations in the basalt fiber and confirmed that fiber crystallization during cooling after sintering begins with the formation of aluminosilicate spinel nuclei, which act as crystallization centers and become incorporated into the structure of orthoclase. The last to form in the phase hierarchy is a low-molecular-weight Fe-containing phase namely, hematite (-Fe2O3), built in a framework silicate of isomorphous series. The surface of the basalt fiber in the sintered material modified with copper sulfide and zirconium oxide additions has been shown to be covered with ~500-nm inclusions of a crystalline phase.