Effects of Li replacement on the nucleation, crystallization and microstructure of Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 glass

Abstract The Li replacement including the Li 2 O replaced by other oxides and the expensive Li 2 CO 3 replaced by low-cost spodumene mineral was studied to lower the product cost of (Li 2 O–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 , LAS) glass ceramic, and the effects of Li replacement on the nucleation, crystallization and microstructure of LAS glass were investigated by the differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that Li 2 O replacement increases the crystallization activation energy, lowers the crystal growth, and increases the nucleation and crystallization temperature by restraining the formation of crystalline phases. The Li 2 CO 3 replacement decreases the crystallization activation energy, promotes the crystal growth, without affecting the nucleation, and lowers the crystallization temperature by adding some beneficial compositions with mixed alkali effect.