Preparation and X-ray characterization of pollucite (CsAlSi2O6)

Abstract

A systematic study of the preparation of synthetic pollucite (CsAlSi₂O₆) by high temperature solid state reaction was performed. Eighteen different combinations of cesium oxide, alumina and silica sources and three firing temperatures were evaluated. The most effective methods of preparing phase-pure pollucite were identified and the chemical compositions of large batches of pollucite prepared by three of these methods were obtained. Reference X-ray powder diffraction data were obtained for the most nearly stoichiometric synthetic pollucite specimen.