Kyanite

Sillimanite Mineral of theoretical formula Al2O3:SiO2

Chemistry

MgO0.060
CaO0.050
K2O0.200
Na2O0.200
TiO20.920
Al2O359.900
SiO237.460
Fe2O30.910

Volatiles

LOI0.290

Links to Other Materials

Miscellaneous

Notes

Kyanite is a super-duty refractory material with very high resistance to thermal shock. It is widely employed in body formulations used in porcelain, tile bodies, and casting mixes. The material reduces fired shrinkage, increases mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance and allows products to be made with thinner walls, better resistance to dunting, deformation and chipping. Kyanite's long jagged particles tend to form an interlocking no-shrink crystal matrix (like a felt) in bodies fired to low heat (potters use it up to 30% in raku bodies).

Kyanite is used in both refractories and ceramics, large grain sizes making an excellent high temperature grog. It is volume stable and has excellent hot load strength.

Because of its expansion characteristics it makes an excellent crack filler.

Kyanite melts at about cone 36-38. This refractory character makes it useful in insulating brick, kiln furniture, refractory shapes, etc.

No material has the theoretical 1:1 Al2O3:SiO2 chemistry, we have shown an average chemistry for Virginia Kyanite.

It is a refractory aluminum silicate mineral found in large deposits in India, Africa and the USA. American kyanite occurs in association with quartz, from which it must be mechanically separated by grinding. Indian kyanite is processed from surface boulders, and can be calcined in lump form and graded in coarser sizes. American kyanite is the most consistent, Indian the most pure, African the least consistent in quality.

Kyanite is available in varying grain sizes down to 325 mesh and in calcined-to-mullite form. The decomposed mullite form is volume-stable with temperature increase, while the raw form of kyanite displays definite expansion during heatup. Depending on grain size, this phenomenon permits the use of kyanite in clay formulations to counteract the shrinkage of the clay body during firing (see also Spodumene). Kyanite has proven invaluable in cements, ramming mixes, and mortars for this purpose.

During calcining pure kyanite decomposes at into mullite and silica at 2750F with associated specific gravity change from 3.6 to about 3.0.


Properties

Data

URLs

Suppliers

Authors

XML

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<material name="Kyanite" descrip="Sillimanite Mineral of theoretical formula Al2O3:SiO2" generic="1" rawmineral="1" searchkey="" loi="0.00">
<families>
<family name="Refractory"/>
</families>
<regions>
<region name="North America"/>
</regions>
<oxides>
<oxide symbol="CaO" name="Calcium Oxide, Calcia" status="" percent="0.050" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="MgO" name="Magnesium Oxide, Magnesia" status="" percent="0.060" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="K2O" name="Potassium Oxide" status="" percent="0.200" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Na2O" name="Sodium Oxide, Soda" status="" percent="0.200" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="TiO2" name="Titanium Dioxide, Titania" status="" percent="0.920" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Al2O3" name="Aluminum Oxide, Alumina" status="" percent="59.900" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="SiO2" name="Silicon Dioxide, Silica" status="" percent="37.460" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Fe2O3" name="Iron Oxide, Ferric Oxide" status="" percent="0.910" tolerance=""/>
</oxides>
<volatiles>
<volatile symbol="" name="" percent="0.290" tolerance=""/>
</volatiles>
<references>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
</references>
<suppliers>
<supplier name="Generic" country="" url="" label=""/>
</suppliers>
<notes>
<note>Kyanite is a super-duty refractory material with very high resistance to thermal shock. It is widely employed in body formulations used in porcelain, tile bodies, and casting mixes. The material reduces fired shrinkage, increases mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance and allows products to be made with thinner walls, better resistance to dunting, deformation and chipping. Kyanite\'s long jagged particles tend to form an interlocking no-shrink crystal matrix (like a felt) in bodies fired to low heat (potters use it up to 30% in raku bodies).

Kyanite is used in both refractories and ceramics, large grain sizes making an excellent high temperature grog. It is volume stable and has excellent hot load strength.

Because of its expansion characteristics it makes an excellent crack filler.

Kyanite melts at about cone 36-38. This refractory character makes it useful in insulating brick, kiln furniture, refractory shapes, etc.

No material has the theoretical 1:1 Al2O3:SiO2 chemistry, we have shown an average chemistry for Virginia Kyanite.

It is a refractory aluminum silicate mineral found in large deposits in India, Africa and the USA. American kyanite occurs in association with quartz, from which it must be mechanically separated by grinding. Indian kyanite is processed from surface boulders, and can be calcined in lump form and graded in coarser sizes. American kyanite is the most consistent, Indian the most pure, African the least consistent in quality.

Kyanite is available in varying grain sizes down to 325 mesh and in calcined-to-mullite form. The decomposed mullite form is volume-stable with temperature increase, while the raw form of kyanite displays definite expansion during heatup. Depending on grain size, this phenomenon permits the use of kyanite in clay formulations to counteract the shrinkage of the clay body during firing (see also Spodumene). Kyanite has proven invaluable in cements, ramming mixes, and mortars for this purpose.

During calcining pure kyanite decomposes at into mullite and silica at 2750F with associated specific gravity change from 3.6 to about 3.0.</note>
</notes>
<testdata>
<testitem testname="4" value="3.00"/>
<testitem testname="4" value="CONE 37"/>
<testitem testname="4" value="CONE 37"/>
<testitem testname="4" value="3.00"/>
</testdata>
</material>



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