EXERCISES ON PHASE DIAGRAMS: SiO2-Al2O3 diagram

Ex. 1: Which is the maximum service temperature of ceramics containing a) 25% Al2O3 and b) 50% Al2O3?

Answ: in both cases, 1587°C (eutectic temperature)

Ex. 2: Which compositions allow a maximum service temperature of a) 1800°C and b) 1650°C?

Answ: a) if Al2O3 > 65%, SiO2 < 35%; b) condition 1 (SiO2 > Al2O3): if Al2O3 < 1% (only impurities allowed),
condition 2 (Al2O3 > SiO2): if Al2O3 > 58%, SiO2 < 42%

EXERCISES ON ELLINGHAM’S DIAGRAMS

Ex. 3: Which is the maximum service temperature of a) silica in an environment with an oxygen partial
pressure of 10-20 atm and a) alumina in an environment with a CO/CO2 ratio of 1010?

Answ: a) 1280°C; b) 1020°C

Ex. 4: Which ceramics may be used in an atmosphere with oxygen partial pressure of 10-20 atm and
temperature higher than 1400°C? Up to which temperature?
Answ: CaO (all T); MgO and Al2O3 up to 1600°C

Ex. 5: Which ceramics are reduced by Co impurities?

Answ: NiO reduced to Ni (T > 350°C), PbO reduced to Pb (all T), Cu2O reduced to Cu (all T), Fe2O3 reduced to
Fe3O4 (all T), Fe3O4 reduced to FeO ( T > 1250°C)