Advances in Aluminium Titanate

This book is an invaluable resource for academics, researchers, and doctoral students who are working on aluminium titanate  (Al2TiO5) and closely related materials based on Al2TiO5. This book is also very useful for designing engineers who deal with the use of aluminium titanate in various industrial applications. Al2TiO5 is an excellent refractory and thermal shock resistant material due to its relatively low thermal expansion coefficient and high melting point. By virtue of these excellent properties, they also have high thermal shock resistance and have practical applications such as diesel particulate filters. However Al2TiO5 is inherently weak due to formation of grain boundary microcracks following sintering, and it suffers from the tyranny of  phase decomposition during service at  between 900-1280°C. The tyranny of weakness and inherent decomposition of Al2TiO5 is a critical issue that must be dealt with to improve its performance in various applications and extreme environment. This book provides insights for mitigating these problems and suggests solutions for improving its mechanical properties and thermal stability. An overview of the thermal stability of Al2TiO5 and its composites is described together with the various factors that contribute to its decomposition. The ability of this material to undergo self-recovery or self-healing after decomposition when it is reheated above 1300°C is brilliantly demonstrated.