Microstructural evolution in some silicate glass-ceramics: a review

Pinckney, L.R. (Corning Inc., Corning, NY, USA); Beall, G.H.

Source: Journal of the American Ceramic Society, v 91, n 3, March 2008, 773-9

ISSN: 0002-7820 CODEN: JACTAW

Publisher: American Ceramic Society, USA

Abstract: Just as the microstructures in glass-ceramics encompass the range from nanocrystalline transparent materials to microcrystalline tough materials, so the paths of microstructural evolution in glass-ceramics vary widely. Evolution can proceed in numerous ways, their genesis being a perturbation of some type, including the surface nucleation used in glass frit processing, crystallization of the primary phase or phases upon distinct crystalline nuclei, and nucleation promoted by nano- or micro- scale amorphous phase separation in the parent glass. Examples of the crystallization history of several glass-ceramic materials are described, with emphasis on how their microstructural evolution influences their ultimate physical and optical properties. (22 refs.)

 terms:  crystal microstructure  -  crystallisation  -  glass ceramics  -  nanostructured materials  -  nucleation  -  phase separation  -  surface structure