Crystallization and microstructure of Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 glass containing complex nucleating agent

The crystallization and microstructure of Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 (LAS) glass ceramic with complex nucleating agents (TiO2 + ZrO2 + P2O5 +/or F−) are investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effects of P2O5 and F− on the crystallization of LAS glass are also analyzed. The introduction of both P2O5 and F− promotes the crystallization of LAS glass by decreasing the crystallization temperature and adjusting the crystallization kinetic parameters, allows a direct formation of β-spodumene without the transformation of LiAl(SiO3)2 into β-spodumene and as a result, increases the crystal size and crystallinity of LAS glass ceramic.