Crystallization characteristics and physico-chemical properties of indium-containing lithium iron aluminosilicate glasses

The crystallization characteristics, microhardness and chemical durability of glasses based on the Li₂O–Al₂O₃–Fe₂O₃ (In₂O₃)–SiO₂ system were investigated. The present work aims to study the effect of In₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ replacements on the crystallization and the resulting microstructure of the glass-ceramics. Very fine grained microstructure was mostly developed by In₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ replacements in the glass-ceramics. The crystalline phases formed after controlled heat-treatment of the glasses were β-eucryptite ss, lithium meta- and di-silicate as well as two forms of pyroxene phases (LiFeSi₂O₆ and LiInSi₂O₆). The microhardness values of the resulting glass-ceramics were decreased with In₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ replacements while the chemical durability was improved. The obtained data were correlated to the type of the crystalline phases formed and the resulting microstructure. Promising glass-ceramic materials of fine microstructure and good chemical durability could be obtained.