Cordierite is silicate material widely used in ceramic industry. The effect of sintering temperature to theproperties of cordierite by sol gel method was studied with utilizing magnesium nitrate, aluminum nitrate, ethanol, andtetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as starting materials. Gels are dried and sintered at different temperature (lOOO°C,1200°C, 1300°C and 1350°C) then characterized by varies analysis techniques. XRD analysis shows that spinel, 11-cordierite and cristobalite are formed at 1000 °C which spinel as predominant phase. At 1200 DC,l1-cordieriteoccured aspredominant phase, spinel, sapphirine and cristobalite are formed as minor phases. It also confirmed that high purity a-cordieriteformed at 1300 °C and clearly observed at 1350 DC.Result of EDX analysis proved that magnesium,aluminum, silicon and oxygen was existed in the cordierite.Keywords: Cordierite, sol-gel, TEOS, coefficient thermal expansion.PACS: 81.07.-b. Y. P. Chao, T. Y. Chow and H. MohamadSchool of Material and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia,Engineering Campus 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
