Compositions in CaO-Al₂O₃ system have been prepared by gel-to-crystallite conversion method. Reactive powders of 1 : 2, 1 : 1, 2 : 1 and 3 : 1 of CaO and₂O₃ compositions were obtained by calcining the product at 800–1200°C. Fine grained powders were used as refractory cement for joining alumina ceramics. An optimum temperature of 1450°C for 4 h produced joints of satisfactory strength. The microstructure and X-ray phase analysis of the fractured joint surface clearly indicate reactive wetting of the alumina ceramics. This wetting enhances the joining of alumina substrates and can be attributed to the formation of Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ liquid phase. The results are explained by using CaO-Al₂O₃ phase diagram.

Ba_1.5-xSr_xZr₄P₅SiO₂₄ compounds withx = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5, belonging to the low thermal expansion NZP family were synthesized by the solid state reaction method. The XRD pattern could be completely indexed with respect to$$R\bar 3$$ space group indicating the ordering of vacancy at the divalent cation octahedral sites. The microstructure and bulk thermal expansion coefficient from room temperature to 800°C of the sintered samples have been studied. All the samples show very low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), withx = 0 samples showing negative expansion. A small substitution of strontium in the pure barium compound changes the sign of CTE. Similarly,x = 1.5 sample (pure strontium) shows a positive CTE and a small substitution of barium changes its sign.X = 1.0 and 1.25 samples have almost constant CTE over the entire temperature range. The low thermal expansion of these samples can be attributed to the ordering of the ions in the crystal structure of these materials