Production of glass–ceramics from fly ash using arc plasma

Glass–ceramics have been produced from municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash by melting the ash in dc arc plasma reactor and subsequent heat treatment at various temperatures for 2 h. The properties of glass–ceramics have been investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microstructure, mechanical properties and chemical resistance of the samples were also determined. Wollastonite and anorthite were found to be the main crystalline phases. Lime addition to fly ash brings forth to gehlenite as a third phase to develop.