Cordierite
also Mg-Al Silicate, Kiln Cordierite
Cordierite is a magnesium-alumino-silicate ceramic from the silicate ceramic family (steatite, cordierite, mullite, porcelain), supplied as-fired in dense, kiln-grade and extruded honeycomb bodies.
Reference datasheet — Cordierite is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the As Fired condition
Cordierite tempers and conditions
Cordierite is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. As Fired is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiln Furniture | Pick for kiln shelves, setters, saggars and burner tiles where thermal-shock cycling matters more than strength. | 8 | 550 HV | 2 W/m·K | ||
As FiredDefault standard sintered cordierite body | Default general-purpose sintered cordierite for insulators, burner plates and structural parts with low expansion. | 25 | 700 HV | 3 W/m·K | ||
Low-porosity technical cordierite | Pick when you need gas tightness, ground tolerances or low-loss RF dielectric performance. | 45 | 850 HV | 4 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Cordierite is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
HONEYCOMB | Extruded thin-wall substrate | Supply form |
What is Cordierite?
Cordierite is a magnesium-alumino-silicate ceramic from the silicate ceramic family (steatite, cordierite, mullite, porcelain), supplied as-fired in dense, kiln-grade and extruded honeycomb bodies. Its very low thermal expansion gives outstanding thermal shock resistance, which is why it is used for catalytic substrates, kiln furniture and burner hardware up to a 1250 °C service limit. Mechanical capability is modest — 2.3 g/cm³ density, 25 MPa tensile strength, 70 GPa modulus and 2.5 W/m·K thermal conductivity — so it carries little structural load. Choose mullite or alumina when higher strength or hot stiffness is required. Cordierite has a density of 2.3 g/cm³ (0.0831 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,465°C (2,669 °F). Cordierite has a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi), weaker than 85% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
What is Cordierite used for?
- Catalytic converter substrates
- Kiln furniture and setter plates
- Diesel particulate filter bodies
- Burner and infrared radiant plates
- Heating element supports
- Thermocouple and electrical insulators
- Heat exchanger honeycomb cores
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 2.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 93% of ceramic grades
- Lightweight — 2.3 g/cm³ (0.0831 lb/in³), better than 85% of ceramic grades
- Easy to machine — 20/100, better than 82% of ceramic grades
- High service temperature — 1,250°C (2,282 °F), better than 76% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 35/100, worse than 93% of ceramic grades
- Poor heat conductor — 2.5 W/m·K (1.44 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 70 GPa (10.2 Msi), worse than 79% of ceramic grades
Cordierite properties
Typical room-temperature values for Cordierite-As Fired; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
Cordierite has a density of 2.3 g/cm³ (0.0831 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,465°C (2,669 °F).
Mechanical10
Cordierite has a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi), weaker than 85% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal5
Cordierite is rated for continuous service to 1,250°C (2,282 °F). It conducts heat at 2.5 W/m·K (1.44 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 2 µm/m·K (1.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Cordierite is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 10 kV/mm (254 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 59% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Cordierite takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
Cordierite's machinability is poor (20/100, better than 82% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. Cordierite is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Cordierite
Is Cordierite easy to machine?
Green or bisque-fired bodies machine easily with carbide; after firing use diamond grinding, coolant and light feeds — the porous structure chips at edges.
Can Cordierite be welded?
Not weldable; join by ceramic cement, glass frit, glaze bonding or mechanical clamping with compliant gaskets.
Can Cordierite be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry/isostatic pressing, slip casting, jiggering or plasticised extrusion (honeycombs), then fired 1300–1420 °C with a tight window to avoid cordierite decomposition.
Cordierite chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| SiO2stoichiometric 2MgO·2Al2O3·5SiO2 | 45 – 55 | 51.4 |
| Al2O3higher in cordierite-mullite kiln bodies | 30 – 40 | 34.9 |
| MgOfrom talc/magnesite raw material | 11 – 15 | 13.8 |
| Fe2O3 + TiO2 + CaO + alkalisclay-derived impurities / sintering aids | 0 – 3 | 1 |
What surface finishes work on Cordierite?
Glaze or ceramic coating seals open porosity; diamond lapping gives flat sealing faces; no plating or anodizing applies.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Cordierite in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Mg-Al SilicateKiln Cordierite
- Also called
- 2MgO-2Al2O3-5SiO2
How much does Cordierite cost?
Cordierite is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 98% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Cordierite — frequently asked
What is Cordierite used for?
Cordierite is typically used for catalytic converter substrates, kiln furniture and setter plates, diesel particulate filter bodies, burner and infrared radiant plates, heating element supports and thermocouple and electrical insulators. In short: thermal-shock resistant ceramic.
What is the tensile strength of Cordierite?
Cordierite has a typical tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 85% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Cordierite easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, better than 82% of ceramic grades). Green or bisque-fired bodies machine easily with carbide; after firing use diamond grinding, coolant and light feeds — the porous structure chips at edges.
Can Cordierite be welded?
Not weldable; join by ceramic cement, glass frit, glaze bonding or mechanical clamping with compliant gaskets.
What surface finishes work on Cordierite?
Glaze or ceramic coating seals open porosity; diamond lapping gives flat sealing faces; no plating or anodizing applies.
Can Cordierite be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry/isostatic pressing, slip casting, jiggering or plasticised extrusion (honeycombs), then fired 1300–1420 °C with a tight window to avoid cordierite decomposition.
What is the maximum service temperature of Cordierite?
Cordierite is rated for continuous use to about 1,250°C (2,282 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Cordierite cost?
Cordierite is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 98% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Cordierite technical ceramic property data — CoorsTek (2023)
- Cordierite kiln furniture and burner plate data — Kyocera / CeramTec (2022)
- Phase Diagrams for Ceramists (MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 system) — American Ceramic Society (1964)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.