Mechanical properties of α-cordierite and β-spodumene glass-ceramics prepared by sintering and crystallization heat treatments

The α-cordierite and β-spodumene glass-ceramics containing B₂O₃, P₂O₅, and/or TiO₂ were produced in a bar shape by hot pressing and crystallization heat treatments of glass powders. Various physical properties of the glass-ceramics were examined. The α-cordierite glass-ceramics showed intrinsic high mechanical property values, whereas the β-spodumene glass-ceramics showed rather low ones. The relatively low density in β-spodumene glass-ceramics would lead to the low mechanical property values. This low density in the β-spodumene glass-ceramics would result from a possible premature crystallization which might hinder a completion of sintering of the matrix. The glass-ceramics without TiO₂ showed slightly higher mechanical properties than those with TiO₂. This difference would result from slightly higher density in the glass-ceramics without TiO₂.