Sintering, crystallization and mechanical properties of a gel-cast cordierite glass-ceramic body

Gel-cast bodies based on cordierite glass-ceramics were prepared by sintering route. Effect of monomer and cross-linker values as well as sintering temperatures on bending strength of dried and sintered bodies were investigated. While the bending strength of dried gel-cast bodies was increased with the percentage of the polymers, bending strength of sintered bodies was changed conversely with them. Therefore, it was concluded that the least amount of monomer acrylamid (3 wt.%) and moderate amount of cross-linker (∼0.75 wt.%) guarantees the required dried and fired bending strengths. The optimum sintering temperature was about 1270 °C and specimens that was fired at this temperature showed a maximum bending strength of about 200 MPa.