Sintered Glass-Ceramic Matrix Composites Made From Latvian Silicate Wastes

Powder technology and sintering were used to fabricate glass-ceramic matrix composites from Latvian industrial wastes and alumina platelets reinforcement. The optimisation of the sintering behaviour of glass-ceramic compositions containing clay and alumina platelets was carried out. Highly crystalline and dense products were fabricated by sintering at temperatures in the range 1040 to 1060 deg C, depending on composition. Addition of waste glass to influence the sintering temperature and sintering interval was also investigated. Composites showed higher fracture strength (up to 97 MPa) and hardness than unreinforced glass-ceramics.