Flexible Ceramics in the System KZr ₂ (PO ₄ ) ₃ –KAlSi ₂ O ₆ Prepared by Mimicking the Microstructure of Itacolumite

Abstract

A ceramic composite mimicking the pervasively cracked microstructure of flexible sandstone (itacolumite) was successfully synthesized by sintering two ceramic materials with different thermal expansion coefficients. A combination of granular KZr 2 (PO 4 ) 3 (high thermal expansion) and powdered KAlSi 2 O 6 (low thermal expansion) resulted in a material with a jigsaw‐like three‐dimensional cracking microstructure similar to that of itacolumite. The synthesized composite was found to exhibit ductile deformation.