Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
We have previously reported the synthesis of cordierite polymer precursors directly from MgO, SiO2 and alumina.1 Removal of organics at 400°C in air and/or in oxygen gave amorphous, atomically mixed, oxide powders with surface areas of 250-400 m2/g. It is possible to convert these high surface area oxide powders to Mg-Si-Al-O-N powders by heating in a flowing NH3 atmosphere. The effects of selected processing conditions on nitrogen incorporation, in a set of well defined oxide powders, were examined. The powders are nitrided in flowing NH3, at temperatures of 700-1200°C, to obtain N contents of up to 5 atomic percent.