Using ZrO2 or Al2O3 particles to enhance the mechanical properties of a LZSA glass-ceramic matrix

Investigations of a range of glass ceramic compositions have been developed in the last decades. These materials show a good potential to be used at room temperature as a substitute to other ceramic materials, due to their lower sintering temperature and costs. The mainly reason that limits the use of these materials is their low mechanical strength. In this work a Li2O-ZrO2-SiO2-Al2O3 (LZSA) glass powder was mixed with 30 wt. % of ZrO2 or Al2O3 (submicron size), uniaxially pressed under 40 MPa and sintered at 650 ºC/30 min. In some samples a second sintering step at 1000 ºC during 30 minute...