Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Protoenstatite, a high-temperature polymorph of enstatite(MgSiO3), is generally not stable at room temperature, and isdifficult to synthesize. Using a recently developed, hydrogenperoxide-assisted, sol-gel synthesis, protoenstatite was synthesized in aform that was stable at room temperature. Its crystallization was stronglydependent on processing conditions, particularly on the manner in which thexerogel was formed and fired. Xerogels prepared by evaporation, sprav-dryingand freeze-drying were compared by XRD, HTXRD, BET, TG/DTA, and 29Si NMR methods. When samples were prepared by evaporation orspray-drying, the result was a mixture of polymorphs. Only the freeze-driedprecursor yielded protoenstatite at a lower temperature and within a shortertime than any previously reported.