Surface crystallization of CaO-Bi2O3-B2O3-Al2O3-TiO2 glass using IR furnace

We have demonstrated that IR halogen lamp heat-treatment induces crystallization at the surface of the CuO-doped glass, in which selective crystallization of TiO2 was observed after heat-treatment. X-ray diffraction pattern of the glass-ceramic prepared IR heat-treatment showed crystallization of TiO2 without significant loss of optical transparency. Photocatalytic decomposition of organics by TiO2 glass-ceramic heat-treated using an IR furnace shows a value similar to that of the glass-ceramics heat-treated using an electric furnace, which indicates that TiO2 can be crystallized at the surface of the bulk material by IR furnace heat-treatment. The present technique is thought to be useful for the preparation of homogeneous surface crystallized glass-ceramics without optical loss. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.