Effeet of Al2O3, MgO and SiO2 on Sintering and Hydration Behaviors of CaO Ceramics

CaO ceramics were prepared by conventional sintering process and their hydration behaviors were evaluated by measuring weight increment on saturated water vapor pressure at ambient temperature. CaCO$_3$ and limestone were used as CaO source materials and $Al_2$O$_3$, MgO and SiO$_2$ were added as sintering agents. $Al_2$O$_3$ was a liquid phase sintering agent to increase densification and grain growth rates, whereas MgO and SiO$_2$, densification and grain growth inhibitors. Regardless of composition, all of the prepared CaO ceramics showed the improved hydration resistance as bulk density increased. Especially, when bulk density was more than 3.0 g/㎤, there was no weight increment after 120 h of hydration. Therefore, to decrease contact area between CaO and water vapor by increasing bulk density with the $Al_2$O$_3$ sintering additive was effective for the improvement of CaO hydration resistance.