Some studies on nucleation, crystallization, microstructure and mechanical properties of mica glass-ceramics in the system 0.2BaO•0.8K2O•4MgO•Al2O3•6SiO2•2MgF2

The crystallization, microstructure, microhardness and theoretical machinability have been investigated by DTA, XRD, SEM and Microhardness Indenter of resulting glass-ceramics. Two distinct crystallization exotherms in the DTA curve are observed and resolved. The first peak corresponds to the initial formation of potassium fluorophlogopite and the second is due to the formation of barium fluorophlogopite. The activation energy for precipitation of each crystalline phase has been evaluated, and the crystallization mechanism has been studied. DTA analyses were conducted at different heating rates and the activation energy was determined graphically from Kissinger and Ozawa equation. The average activation energy is calculated as 27.6 KJ/mol for the first and 366 KJ/mol for the second crystallization peak. The Avrami exponent for first and second crystallization peak temperature determined by Augis and Bennett method is found to be 3 and 3.9, respectively. The results indicate that the growth of mica is a two and three dimensional process, controlled by the crystal-glass interface reaction. The Vicker's hardness decreased steadily at intermediate heat treatment temperature with the formation of barium and potassium fluorophlogopite phase, but the decrease in hardness is more rapid at higher temperature with the development of an interconnected 'house of cards' microstructure. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.