Synthesis of stoichiometrically controlled reactive aluminosilicate and calcium-aluminosilicate powders

Aluminosilicate and calcium-aluminosilicate powders are synthesised via an organic steric entrapment route under conditions permitting strict stoichiometric control, utilising polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol as polymeric carriers. Polyethylene glycol is superior to polyvinyl alcohol for synthesis of calcium-aluminosilicate powders via this method, producing a more controllable product which generated less fine ash during calcination. This paper presents detailed description of synthesis and characterisation of the powders produced through this approach, including new insight into the nanostructures within the calcined powders. Aluminium environments are a mixture of 4-, 5- and 6-coordinated, while silicon is tetrahedral and shows a broad range of connectivity states. The powders are X-ray amorphous, display a high degree of homogeneity, and thus offer potential for utilisation as precursors for synthesis of hydrous aluminosilicates in the quaternary CaO–Na2O–Al2O3–SiO2 system.