GLASS-CERAMICS PREPARED FROM SPODUMENE MINERAL

摘要

The viability of fabricating lithium aluminosilicate (LAS) glasses and glass-ceramics from a naturally occurring spodumene mineral has been investigated. A deposit of α-spodumene (Li_2O·Al_2O_3·4SiO_2) obtained from Greenbushes, Western Australia, has successfully been used to produce a transparent colourless glass. Additions of zirconia (ZrO_2) and/or titania (TiO_2) were found to be effective in promoting the nucleation and growth of β-quartz s.s. and β-spodumene s.s., both of which possess very low thermal expansion coefficients and offer promise of excellent thermal shock resistance. The experimental results have shown great potential of producing the LAS glass-ceramics using the more economical minerals.