Physical properties of the Sr₄Al₆O₁₂SO₄ ceramic compound

The Sr₄Al₆O₁₂SO₄ ceramic compound was synthesized by a solid state reaction starting from stoichiometric mixtures of 3: 3: 1 molar ratio of reactive grade of SrCO₃, Al₂O₃ and SrSO₄, respectively. Cylindrical samples were confirmed by uniaxial pressing at 100 MPa and were heat treated at 1400^oC during 4 hrs. Subsequently, the samples were ground and re-conformed in cylindrical shape samples by uniaxial pressing at 300 MPa. The new samples were heat treated at 1400^oC during 24 hrs. This process was done in order to increase density of the samples. The Sr₄Al₆O₁₂SO₄ ceramic compound was characterized by the study of its physical properties such as: density, micro-hardness, thermal expansion and stability, enthalpy of formation, magnetic properties and electrical conductivity. Experimental results show that the maximum density obtained for the Sr₄Al₆O₁₂SO₄ ceramic compound was 2.913 grcm⁻³, with thermal expansion coefficient of 10.12E⁻⁰⁶(^oC⁻¹); it also presents an enthalpy of 2.3 KJmol^-1 and an excellent thermal stability at elevated temperatures in different atmospheres. In addition, the Sr₄Al₆O₁₂SO₄ ceramic compound is neither electrically conductive nor magnetic.