Study of thermally treated dickite by infrared and micro-Raman spectroscopy using curve-fitting technique

The products of dickite heated in air at 1000 to 1300°C were studied using curve-fitting of transmission and photoacoustic infrared and micro-Raman spectra. The spectra were compared with those of mullite, Al-spinel, corundum, cristobalite, amorphous silica and meta-dickite. Bands that characterize crystalline phases appeared at 1100°C and became stronger with increasing temperature. Mullite, Al-spinel, corundum and amorphous silica were identified by their characteristic bands. The characteristic IR bands of cristobalite overlap those of mullite and amorphous silica, and its presence was therefore established from intensity ratios of the appropriate bands. The research clearly demonstrated the advantage of using curve-fitting for the identification of high temperature phases in the study of the thermal treatment of kaolin-like minerals by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. This technique seems to be a useful method for materials analysis in the ceramic industry.