In this work natural raw materials were used to obtain Al2O3/SiC powders by carbothermal reduction. The aluminosilicates studied were kaolin, kyanite and illite-muscovite and the reductor agents were carbon black or graphite. The reaction powders were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and helium picnometry. During the reaction, the differences among the raw materials structures as well as into the chemical composition produced powders with several morphologies. Big spherical agglomerates, whiskers, particles and fibrous clusters were found.
Carbothermal reduction; aluminosilicates; Al2O3/SiC composites; natural raw materials
