The densification and morphology of cordierite-based glass-ceramics

In this study, five different proportion of a borosilicate glass (from 30 to 70 wt%) were added to stoichiometric cordierite to improve the densification behaviour of cordierite-based glass-ceramics. The phase and microstructural evolution of the samples were characterised by DTA and SEM. The results show that glass content plays an important role in the sintering of cordierite-based glass-ceramics. The sintered density increases as the glass content increases at low temperature (950 degreesC). At high temperatures, the sintered density passes through a maximum value when the glass content is about 60 wt.%. followed by a decrease as the glass content further increases. DTA results show that densification is a non-reactive liquid phase sintering process. The microstructural evolution of the samples is in good agreement with the measurements of sintered densities. At the lower glass content, the sample shows more pores and a non-uniform pore size distribution. With the glass content increasing, the pore size becomes more uniform and sintered density increases. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.