New Silicate Glass-Ceramic Materials and Composites

Abstract

New silicate glass-ceramic compositions have been investigated due to their interesting chemical, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. LZSA glass-ceramics based on -spodumene (Li2O•Al2O3•4-10SiO2) and zircon (ZrSiO4) crystalline phases have shown good chemical resistance, high bending strength as well as high abrasion resistance, when compared with traditional ceramic materials, and coefficient of thermal expansion from 4.6 to 9.110-6 °C-1. These features basically depend on the nature, size and distribution of the formed crystals as well as on the residual glassy phase. The nature of the formed crystalline phases and consequently the final properties can be controlled by modifying the chemical composition of the parent glass and also by adequate selection of the heat-treatment parameters. The classical fabrication of glass-ceramic materials consists on the preparation of monolithic glass components followed by heat treatments for crystallisation. However, this technology requires high investments and can be justified only for large production. A viable alternative could be the production of glass-ceramics processed from glass powders and consolidated by sintering using the same equipments of traditional ceramic plants. This work reports the manufacturing and characterization of glass-ceramic materials and composites processed by pressing, injection moulding, extrusion, casting, replication, and rapid prototyping.