Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.84, No.5, 1155-1160, 2001
Characterization of liquid exsolved by remelting reaction of belite
We examined the chemistry and structure of the liquid that was exsolved by the remelting reaction of belite, Electron probe microanalysis revealed that the liquid concentrated the impurity components (e,g,, Na2O, K2O, Al2O3, and Fe2O3) of the parent belite, Micro-Raman spectroscopy showed the similarity of the spectra of the exsolved liquid and amorphous calcium aluminoferrite solid solution. The transition from the crystalline to the amorphous state of the solid solution was induced by increasing the excitation laser power. Accordingly, the liquid at ambient temperature was most likely in a glassy state. The chemical composition of the liquid, deduced from the above experiments, was similar to 81 mass% Ca2AlFeO5 and similar to 19 mass% Ca2SiO4. The alkalies, which have never been detectable in crystalline calcium aluminoferrite, were probably necessary for the vitrification of the liquid.