Effects of fluorine on crystallization, structure and performances of lithium aluminosilcate glass ceramic

Abstract The effects of fluorine on the nucleation, crystallization, structure and performances of low-expansion lithium aluminosilcate glass ceramic are investigated by the differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other measuring technologies. The introduction of fluorine promotes the nucleation and crystallization of LAS glass, lowers the crystallizing temperature, allows a direct formation of β-spodumene without the transformation from β-quartz into β-spodumene and as a result, refines the microstructure and improves the physical and mechanical properties of the glass ceramics.