Abstract
A powdered sample of natural sepiolite from Turkey was sintered by a hydrothermal hot-pressing technique. Density and compressive strength of the sintered samples were increased with the amount of water added and the reaction temperature. However, excess water did not increase them notably. Fibrous crystals of the sepiolite wereeffectively rearranged and sintered at temperatures above 280°C. The sintered samples were not crumbled in boiling water. Profiles of X-ray powder diffraction were not significantly changed by this treatment. Values of specific surface area of the sintered samples were more than 150m2/g, which suggested that the tunnel structure in the sepiolite was not modified by this treatment.
