Cordierite was synthesized using fly ash, sintered magnesia and silica fume as starting materials, ZrO2 and CaF2 as additives, drying at (110±5) ¡æ for 24 h, and then firing at 1 290 ¡æ for 3 h. Effects of type and addition of additives on structure and properties of synthesized cordierite were researched. The compressive strength, water absorption and apparent porosity, shrinkage rate, and bulk density of the specimens were measured, the phase composition was analyzed by XRD, and the specimens were observed by SEM. The results show that: (1) cordierite can be successfully synthesized using fly ash, sintered magnesia and silica fume; (2) CaF2 facilitates the sintering, enhancing bulk density and shrinkage rate, but reducing the compressive strength; ZrO2 can promote cordierite synthesis, compacting the structure and increasing the compressive strength; (3) when the ZrO2 addition is 2 mass%, the main crystal phases are hexagonal ᪲cordierite and orthorhombic ⪲cordierite, the crystals grow well, and the amount of synthesized cordierite is the highest.