Crystallisation in the SrO-MgO-ZrO2-SiO2 (SMZS) system glasses

Abstract

The SrO-MgO-ZrO2-SiO2 quaternary system was first investigated in 1989. It was reported that the lowest liquidus temperature is as similar to1000degreesC and located near the SrO-SiO2 edge of the composition tetrahedron. Since the system has a wide range of glass formation, it has been extensively examined with the present study. After melting, depending on viscosity, glass melts tend to crystallise on cooling if the cooling rate is too slow to prevent such phenomenon. It is this behaviour that initiated investigation into the crystallisation ability of this glass system. As SMZS glasses include zirconia, surface crystallisation is generally inhibited. Hereby, crystallisation mechanisms, identification of crystal phases and microstructure of glass ceramics produced are given