Preparation of magnesium aluminate spinel by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis metallurgy methods

Experimental data are presented on the high-temperature synthesis of cast inorganic materials in the MgO–Al2O3 system. Experiments were carried out in multipurpose self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reactors at an argon pressure p = 5 MPa. The starting mixtures used in the experiments consisted of molybdenum(VI) and magnesium(II) oxides and aluminum. It has been shown that, varying synthesis parameters, one can control the phase composition and microstructure of the final oxide products. We have optimized synthesis conditions for the preparation of single-phase magnesium aluminate spinel, MgAl2O4. The SHS products have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and local microstructural analysis.