Characterization of cordierite-based glass-ceramics produced from fly ash

The cordierite-based glass-ceramics have been developed using fly ash as one of the starting raw materials. On the basis of DTA analysis, nucleation experiments were carried out at 840 °C for 2 h and crystallization experiments were performed at 1020 °C for 2 h. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the major phase of the synthesized glass-ceramics was cordierite along with a trace of anorthite and iron cordierite. The properties of the synthesized cordierite-based glass-ceramics compared well with the values of industrial cordierite. Results indicate an interesting potential for fly ash to produce useful materials.