Properties of Li₂O-ZnO-Al₂O₃-SiO ₂ glass-ceramic system prepared by spray pyrolysis

Li₂O-ZnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (LZAS) glass-ceramic system was studied in the high temperature spray pyrolysis. Small amount of P₂O₅ was used as nucleation agent. Fine-sized Li₂O-ZnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glass powders with amorphous phase and spherical shape were formed by spray pyrolysis at temperatures between 1300 and 1500°C. The mean size of the glass powders prepared at a temperature of 1500°C was 0.7 μm. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the glass powders was 551.2°C. The two crystallization exothermic peaks were observed at 703.8 and 923.8°C. Densifications of specimens occurred at sintering temperatures of 800 and 900°C, in which interconnected network microstructure was formed by tiny dendritic crystals. The specimens sintered at temperatures of 600 and 700°C had LiAl(SiO ₃)₂ crystal structure. On the other hand, the specimens sintered at temperatures between 800 and 1000°C had LiAlSi₂O ₆ (β-spodumene) crystal structure.