X-Ray Study of the Solid Solution of TiO, Fe2O3, and G, O3 in Mullite (3A12O3a2Si02)

A study of the solid solution of TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, and Cr₂0₃ in mullite was made by measuring the changes in lattice parameters and unit-cell volume. Synthetic mullite (3O₃-2SiO₂) was reacted with up to 12 weight % of the oxides at temperatures ranging from 1000° to 17000C. The approximate minimum temperature required for the formation of solid solution was 12000C. for Fe₂0₃ and 1400°C. for Cr₂O₃ and TiO₃. The maximum amount of solid solution found was 2 to 4% TiO₂ at 1600°C., 10 to 12% Fe₂O_s at 1300°C., and 8 to 10% Cr_ZO₃ at 1600OC. Lattice parameters and unit-cell volumes for each solid solution series increased with increasing amounts of foreign oxide. There was good agreement between the calculated and observed increase in cell dimensions for the iron oxide series. Except in the case of titania, there was good agreement between X-ray data and petrographic observations.