Investigation of kinetics of solid-phase synthesis of lithium orthosilicate

The kinetics of the interaction between lithium carbonate and silica with various degrees of dispersion was investigated by TG and DTA methods. It was found that the utilization of pyrogenic silica with a specific surface area of about 300 m(2) g(-1) instead of aerosil with one of 175 m(2) g(-1) leads to an increase of the reaction rate between lithium carbonate and silica, which depends on the formation and growth of lithium orthosilicate crystals in the first stage, and is conditioned by the diffusion of lithium and oxygen ions through the lithium orthosilicate layer formed at temperatures above 800 K. This supposition is supported by the kinetic analysis results obtained with the use of the different models. The optimal regime of heating is recommended.