The influence of the binder on the properties of sintered glass-ceramics produced from industrial wastes

Sintered glass-ceramics were produced from coal fly ashes, red mud from aluminum production and silica fume. The capabilities of Tunçbilek fly ash and a mixture of Orhaneli fly ash, red mud and silica fume to be vitrified and devitrified by sintering process were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. To determine the effect of binder in the sintering technique, glass powders were pressed without or with the addition of polyvinyl alcohol. Owing to microstructural observations, density and hardness measurements, it can be said that physical properties and the hardness of the produced samples strongly depended on the crystallization degree of the samples. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure test results showed that glass-ceramic samples produced by using sintering technique could be considered as non-hazardous materials. Chemical durability of the sintered glass-ceramic samples was also good. Microstructural investigations, hardness and physical properties of the samples indicated that the addition of polyvinyl alcohol improved the properties of sintered glass-ceramics obtained from Orhaneli fly ash, red mud and silica fume.