Crystallization and thermal stability effects on tailings glass-ceramics by various heat treating processes

Abstract

Increasing environmental concerns raise attention on the recycling of mining wastes and smelting of byproducts. As one of the candidate materials, slag glass-ceramics give full play to effective use of tailings resources with excellent performance. In the present research, Bayan Obo tailings are used to produce slag glass-ceramics. However, the effect of the preparation process on the stable behavior and crystallization mechanism of glass-ceramics is still being explored. In this study, different heat treatment processes are used to prepare slag glass-ceramics and its effects on the stability and performance are evaluated through different glass crystallization characteristics. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Spectral analysis techniques (FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy), and high-temperature thermal imaging system (Tomac) are performed to study and characterize the stable behavior and mechanism of glass-ceramics. Results show that glass-ceramics with heat treatment at 1000 °C exhibit competitive mechanical properties. High crystallization temperature promotes the crystallization of the glass and enhances the growth of crystal grains to optimize the stability and physical properties of the glass-ceramics. In this research, a new process parameter model is provided for process optimization in the industrial production process of glass-ceramics.