Synthesis of Chemically Stabilized Cristobalite

Abstract

The synthesis of chemically stabilized cristobalite (CSC) by a wet‐chemical route is described. CSC is a form of silica (containing small amounts of other oxides) which is similar in many ways to β‐cristobalite, but does not invert to α‐cristobalite upon cooling. The effects of changing the dopant levels and various synthetic parameters on the phases formed in the CaO‐Al 2 O 3 ‐SiO 2 system have been investigated. Stabilization of cristobalite with a number of different dopant combinations has been attempted, with mixed results. The use of wet‐chemical techniques has led to the synthesis of apparently phase‐pure CSC in a composition region where traditional solid‐state synthetic techniques yield a mixture of other phases.