Abstract: A process for manufacture of molten carbonate fuel cell matrices in which an aluminate precursor material and a lithium salt are mixed in an aqueous or organic solvent, resulting in formation of a suspension, the suspension is heated to a temperature less than a boiling of the solvent, resulting in formation of a slurry comprising a lithium aluminate precursor material, at least one casting additive is added to the slurry, the slurry is formed into a desired shape, the desired shape is dried or cured to yield a green molten carbonate fuel cell structure, and the green molten carbonate fuel cell structure is heated after assembly into a molten carbonate fuel cell to the molten carbonate fuel cell operating temperature, resulting in transformation of the lithium aluminate precursor material to lithium aluminate.