Effect of some nucleating agents on crystallizing phases and microstructure in Li2O–BaO–Al2O3–SiO2 system

Different concentrations of LiF and Cr2O3 were incorporated in Li, Ba aluminosilicate glass to establish their effects on the crystallization process. The kinetics of phase transformations, the final crystalline phase assemblages and the microstructures formed were found to be dependent on the types and concentration of the nucleant involved. Cr2O3 was found to increase the melting temperature and favor crystallization of β-spodumene ss hexacelsian and traces of monoclinic celsian. It also favors volume crystallization of finer grained microstructure. LiF was found to decrease the melting temperature and favor crystallization of β-spodumene ss and monoclinic celsian. LiF in low concentrations greatly facilitates the crystallization process, the β-eucryptite ss/β-spodumene ss transformation and hexacelsian/monoclinic celsian transformation. It also stimulates surface crystallization with holocrystalline coarse non-uniform textures. The effects of various Cr2O3 concentrations were discussed on the basis of the increased viscosity and separation of Cr2O3 and/or chromium spinel phases. The role of LiF was attributed to the role of fluorine ions in reducing the viscosity of the glasses, consequently facilitating crystallization of the structurally more complex silicate in addition to favoring reaching thermodynamic equilibrium.