Glass with a low-melting temperature belonging to the P2O5–CaO–Na2O system, applied as a coating on technical ceramics (alumina, zirconia) and traditional ceramics (porcelain stoneware)

Abstract

This article investigates the development and potential applications of low-melting point lead-free glasses. Their importance is due to strong market demands to comply with the strict international regulations against the use of lead. In this work, a preliminary study of the existing interactions of a low-melting-temperature glass belonging to the P2O5–CaO–Na2O system when it is deposited on different ceramic substrates, both traditional (porcelain stoneware) and technical (alumina and zirconia), has been carried out. The ionic diffusion through the studied interfaces, the phases present, the composition of the glassy phase and the surface morphology of the coating have been studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), with coupled EDX microanalysis. The chemical resistance of the different glassy coatings obtained is also evaluated. The results showed that these new lead-free low-melting-temperature glassy coatings are chemically and mechanically compatible, and promising candidates for applications and markets in a broad range of fields.