Phase Composition and Morphology of Pottery Stone Microcrystalline Powders Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method

Abstract

Pottery stone (PTS) microcrystalline powders were synthesized by a hydrothermal method using two concentrations of NaOH solution (2 M and 4 M) at 60, 80 and 120°C for 8 h in a Teflon- lined stainless steel autoclave. The phase composition and morphology of the samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The major phase compositions of the as-prepared PTS powders appeared in the XRD patterns are all silicate compounds such as tridymite, crystobalite, quartz, feldspar, albite, sodium silicate, analcime, hydroxyl-cancrinite and sodium aluminium silicates, depending on the NaOH concentration and the reaction temperature. Moreover, SEM micrographs showed the spherical polyhedral particles ranging from 8 to 14 µm in diameters and needle-like particles with a mean aspect ratio of 5.7 that obtained by the hydrothermal treatment operated at 120°C using 2 M and 4 M of NaOH, respectively.