XRD microstructural analysis of mullites obtained from kaolinite–alumina mixtures

A microstructural study of mullite obtained by the reaction sintering of kaolinite–α–alumina mixtures in the range 1150–1700°C has been performed by using X-ray line profile analyses together with scanning and transmission electron microscopy equipped with microanalysis by energy dispersion (SEM-EDS, TEM-AEM). Two kinds of morphology corresponding to primary (elongated grains) and secondary (equiaxed grains) mullite have been observed. A bimodal crystallite size distribution has been detected through XRD microstructural analysis from 1300°C. The results obtained by this method are compared with SEM/TEM data.