Synthesis and Thermal Expansion of β-Eucryptite Powders Produced by the Inorganic-Organic Steric Entrapment Method

The characterization of powders prepared using the inorganic–organic steric entrapment method was explored and compared to the conventional solid‐state route, using X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, particle size analysis, and specific surface area measurements. β‐eucryptite was crystallized at 627°C and the properties of the resulting powder allowed for increased densification upon sintering compared to conventional methods. The thermal expansion behavior was also determined in situ using X‐ray diffraction and was found to be similar to other published studies, but thermal expansion in all {hkl} pole directions has been measured.