Magnesium aluminate (MA) is a spinel group of material and rarely available in nature. It exhibits several advantageous thermal, thermo-mechanical, optical, chemical properties which renders it suitable for wide gamut applications starting from refractory to sensor to IR transmitting window. It has face centered cubic structure and has wide solubility to its end members at elevated temperatures. As a result of this solubility, non-stoichiometric compositions exist in the phase field of spinel in the phase diagram. Due to its unavailability in nature, MA spinels are synthetically prepared through different routes and using different starting materials. Among these, solid state reaction sintering or conventional mixed oxide (CMO) method is the most techno-economical viable process. However, the challenge lies with the preparation of dense MA spinel from its oxide precursors in a single stage process is the expansion due to spinellization. Several attempts have been made to overcome this deterring factor through improving the reactivity of the precursors, by controlling the processing parameters, or by using the mineralizers. In this paper crystal structure, stoichiometry in spinel composition, mechanism of spinel formation, different synthesis method, properties and applications are reviewed.

铝酸镁 (MA) 是一类尖晶石材料，在自然界中很少见。它表现出多种有利的热、热机械、光学、化学特性，使其适用于从耐火材料到传感器再到红外透射窗口的宽色域应用。它具有面心立方结构，并且在高温下对其末端成员具有广泛的溶解度。由于这种溶解度，相图中尖晶石的相场中存在非化学计量成分。由于其在自然界中不可用，MA 尖晶石是通过不同的路线和使用不同的起始材料合成制备的。其中，固态反应烧结法或传统的混合氧化物（CMO）法是技术上最经济可行的工艺。然而，挑战在于在单阶段工艺中从其氧化物前体制备致密的 MA 尖晶石是由于尖晶石化引起的膨胀。通过改善前体的反应性、通过控制加工参数或通过使用矿化剂，已经进行了若干尝试来克服这一阻碍因素。本文综述了尖晶石的晶体结构、化学计量比、尖晶石形成机理、不同的合成方法、性质和应用。