Abstract:
A porous ceramics is obtained using rice husk as the source of silica. The modification of mesoscopic structure under different sintering conditions has been investigated using neutron scattering techniques and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction confirmed the purity of silica by comparing the diffraction pattern from pure silica. Thermogravimetry data show that a phase transition occurs at 750 degrees C. X-ray data confirms that sodium calcium silicate is formed after the latter transition. Small angle neutron scattering measurements reveal the presence of nanopores of two distinct size ranges; viz., 162 and 30 nm. Porosity of the compact by bulk density measurement has been found to be similar to 50 percent.
