Reformation of phase composition in decomposed aluminium titanate

The ability of decomposed Al₂TiO₅ to undergo reformation in phase composition has been characterised by neutron diffraction at elevated temperature and verified by differential thermal analysis. It is shown that the process of phase decomposition in metastable Al₂TiO₅ is reversible and that reformation occurs readily when decomposed Al₂TiO₅ is re-heated above 1300 °C. Subsequent decomposition of reformed Al₂TiO₅ during cooling below 1200 °C is governed by the temperature-dependent atomic diffusion rates.