Effect of MnO2 on the Properties of Mullite-based Ceramics

Low-density mullite-based ceramic proppants were prepared from recycled coal fly ash, bauxite, and additives (feldspar, talcum, BaCO3, and MnO2). The effects of MnO2 content and sintering temperature on properties and morphologies of resultant proppants were investigated. Results showed that the performance of proppants have approved significantly at sinter temperature around 1380 °C when the content of MnO2 equals to 4 wt %, such as low apparent density(2.70 g cm−3) and low breakage ratio (3.10% under 52 MPa pressure). The low-density mullite-based ceramic proppant therefore is assumed to be a promising proppant material for the hydraulic fracturing production of petroleum. Low-density ceramic proppants were prepared from recycled coal fly ash and bauxite. The resultant ceramic proppants sintered at 1380 °C showed excellent performance when the content MnO2 equals to 4 wt %, such as low apparent density (2.70 g cm−3), low breakage ratio (3.10% under 52 MPa pressure). The interlocked skeleton network structures are formed by the interweaving of rectangular block-like mullite crystals which is beneficial to enhancing the strength of samples.