Effect of TiO2 addition on the crystallization of quenched glasses in the SiO2–Al2O3–ZrO2 system

Abstract

The glass formation in the SiO2-rich region of the ternary oxide system Al2O3–ZrO2–SiO2 with MgO, CaO, and TiO2 as melting aids was analyzed. The crystallization of glasses with different content of TiO2 and phase evolution with the temperature was studied by X-ray diffraction, infrared, laser Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The use of TiO2 favored formation and crystallization of the glasses due to the decrease of the viscosity of melts and acting as a nucleating agent. The crystalline phase of t-ZrO2 was developed at temperatures as low as 880°C whereas in as prepared specimens without TiO2 its presence was not detected. For the specimens with TiO2, t-ZrO2 and mullite were the principal phases at 1000°C. TiO2 addition did not change the crystallization sequence but decreased the formation temperature of the crystalline phases. Most of Ti4+ ions entered into t-ZrO2 and only a small portion in mullite, but the surplus was detected in ZrTiO4.