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Crystals
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Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization
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Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Polycrystalline Ceramics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 17924

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Araceli De Pablos Martin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Otto Schott Institute of Materials Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Fürstengraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
Interests: glasses; glass-ceramics; nanocrystallization; transparent glass-ceramics; transmission elecron microscopy; thermal characterization; structural characterization; optical properties
Dr. Giulio Gorni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CELLS-ALBA Synchrotron, Carrer de la Llum 2-26, 08290 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Interests: glass-ceramics; glasses; nanostructure; crystallization mechanism; sol-gel; optical properties; X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is a great pleasure to invite you to contribute your original research to this Special Issue centred on processing, properties, and applications of glass-ceramics. Glass-ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials prepared by a controlled crystallization process of glasses. The desired crystalline phases, with sizes from micrometers to nanometers, are obtained by a proper combination of chemical composition and processing method. Most glass-ceramics reported so far are based on silicate glasses but phosphate, borate, oxyfluoride and chalcogenide glass-ceramics were also prepared, showing the wide variety of compositions and crystal phases that can be obtained.

The advantages of glass processing demonstrated the possibility of preparing glass-ceramics in different forms such as bulk, films, powders, fibres, etc., with applications spanning from passive or active optical materials, to electrically conducting or insulating materials, up to biomaterial or systems with high mechanical resistance or extremely low thermal expansion coefficient. In some cases, the crystal phase itself brings new or improved functionalities, while for other applications the crystal phase is an efficient host for doping elements such as Rare-Earth ions, transition metals, or metal nanoparticles. On the other side, the composition, fraction, and properties of the residual glass phase play an import role for the final glass-ceramics. Despite the huge variety of compositions and applications, a common denominator for all glass-ceramics is the importance of the crystallization mechanism and the improvement of specific physical properties due to the crystal growth.

This Special Issue aims to share recent achievements in the field of glass-ceramics with special attention to the relation between processing, micro/nanostructure and the improved physical properties obtained because of crystallization. Studies involving the use of synchrotron radiation-based techniques for the study of glass-ceramics are very welcome.

Dr. Araceli De Pablos Martin
Dr. Giulio Gorni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • crystallization mechanism
  • glass-ceramics
  • glass-crystallization
  • microstructure
  • optical properties
  • electrical properties
  • mechanical properties
  • thermal properties
  • synchrotron radiation

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization
by Araceli De Pablos Martin and Giulio Gorni
Crystals 2021, 11(9), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11091084 - 7 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2227
Abstract
Controlled crystallization of glasses is a broad research area within glass science in which researchers from academia and industry are both involved [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization)

Research

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15 pages, 2599 KiB  
Article
New Perspective on Thermally Stimulated Luminescence and Crystallization of Barium Borate Oxyfluoride Glasses
by Mauricio Rodríguez Chialanza, Germán Azcune, Heinkel Bentos Pereira and Ricardo Faccio
Crystals 2021, 11(7), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11070745 - 26 Jun 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1667
Abstract
The demand for modern materials, especially glasses, used in different applications, such as radiation sensors and spectral converters, requires a detailed study of their properties. The incorporation of fluoride compounds in borate glasses and their crystallization at the nanometric scale allows the properties [...] Read more.
The demand for modern materials, especially glasses, used in different applications, such as radiation sensors and spectral converters, requires a detailed study of their properties. The incorporation of fluoride compounds in borate glasses and their crystallization at the nanometric scale allows the properties of these materials to be further enhanced. Although many works showed improvements in some of these properties, some critical aspects, such as the crystallization mechanism and the role of the fluorine phase, need more investigation. We worked with xNaF (100 − x)BaO·2B2O3 glasses with x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35% (in mol) to increase the knowledge in this field. The structural modifications and the thermally stimulated luminescence of the glasses were studied, and their crystallization was analyzed by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. A continuous trap distribution was found, which was responsible for its very good luminescent signal, especially in glasses with 20% NaF. By selecting a suitable amount of NaF, it is possible to obtain nanocrystals of BaF2. These promising results we reached show the applicability of these materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization)
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17 pages, 2368 KiB  
Article
Sintering/Crystallization and Viscosity of Sealing Glass-Ceramics
by Sonia Rodríguez-López and Maria J. Pascual
Crystals 2021, 11(7), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11070737 - 25 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
Two glass-ceramics sealants for solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) in the system BaO/SrO-MgO-B2O3-SiO2 have been analysed according to relevant sealing parameters such as sintering and crystallization of the glass powders and dilatation and viscosity evolution with crystallization of glass-ceramic [...] Read more.
Two glass-ceramics sealants for solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) in the system BaO/SrO-MgO-B2O3-SiO2 have been analysed according to relevant sealing parameters such as sintering and crystallization of the glass powders and dilatation and viscosity evolution with crystallization of glass-ceramic compacts. Special emphasis is given to the crystallization kinetics and mechanism, crystalline phases formed and the role of viscosity in the whole sealing process. The slower crystallization rate of the strontium-containing glass composition results in good joining with the interconnect steel before the glass starts to crystallize and increases its viscosity. This avoids and excessive sealing temperature and offers better compatibility with the start up and working temperature of an SOFC (750–850 °C). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization)
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11 pages, 3984 KiB  
Article
Crystallization Process and Site-Selective Excitation of Nd3+ in LaF3/NaLaF4 Sol–Gel-Synthesized Transparent Glass-Ceramics
by María E. Cruz, Jing Li, Giulio Gorni, Alicia Durán, Glenn C. Mather, Rolindes Balda, Joaquín Fernández and Yolanda Castro
Crystals 2021, 11(5), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11050464 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2405
Abstract
In this study, transparent oxyfluoride glass-ceramics (GCs) with NaLaF4 nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by the sol–gel method for the first time. Three different molar ratios of La(CH3COO)3/Na(CH3COO) were used to obtain the GCs, which were sintered [...] Read more.
In this study, transparent oxyfluoride glass-ceramics (GCs) with NaLaF4 nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by the sol–gel method for the first time. Three different molar ratios of La(CH3COO)3/Na(CH3COO) were used to obtain the GCs, which were sintered at 450, 550 and 650 °C for 1 min. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to follow the evolution of the xerogel during the heat treatments and to study crystal growth for the three temperatures. In all cases, the LaF3 crystalline phase was present, but crystallization of NaLaF4 was only promoted at 650 °C. Thermogravimetric and thermodifferential analysis (TGA-DTA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the crystallization process. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was employed to confirm NaLaF4 crystallization and determine the size distribution. The incorporation of Nd3+ ion into NaLaF4 and LaF3 nanocrystals was confirmed by site-selective emission and excitation spectra. The Nd3+ emission intensities in both phases depend not only on the NaLaF4/LaF3 ratio but also on their emission efficiencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization)
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12 pages, 3156 KiB  
Article
Processing and Optical Properties of Eu-Doped Chloroborate Glass-Ceramic
by Mihail Secu and Corina Elisabeta Secu
Crystals 2020, 10(12), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10121101 - 1 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2837
Abstract
An europium doped BaO–B2O3–BaCl2 chloroborate glass-ceramic containing a BaCl2 nanocrystalline phase was produced by melt-quenching followed by glass crystallization during annealing. Structural and morphological investigations using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have shown fvBaCl2 nanocrystals [...] Read more.
An europium doped BaO–B2O3–BaCl2 chloroborate glass-ceramic containing a BaCl2 nanocrystalline phase was produced by melt-quenching followed by glass crystallization during annealing. Structural and morphological investigations using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have shown fvBaCl2 nanocrystals of about tens of nm size accompanied by a smaller amount of the BaB2O4 crystalline phase. Photoluminescence spectra have indicated the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ during processing in air or a reducing atmosphere. The spectra analysis showed the presence of Eu3+ ions in the borate glass matrix, while the Eu2+ were incorporated in both the BaCl2 nanocrystals and glass matrix. Thermoluminescence properties were due to the recombination of F(Cl) centers and Eu2+ related hole centers produced by irradiation within the BaCl2 nanocrystals. The color impression of the samples and the photoluminescence quantum efficiency were influenced by the glass processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization)
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Review

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12 pages, 36159 KiB  
Review
Mechanical Properties of CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 Glass-Ceramics Precipitating Hexagonal CaAl2Si2O8 Crystals
by Kei Maeda, Kosho Akatsuka, Gaku Okuma and Atsuo Yasumori
Crystals 2021, 11(4), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11040393 - 8 Apr 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4765
Abstract
Fracture behavior via a flexural test for a newly found CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 (CAS) glass-ceramic (GC) was compared with that of enstatite GC and mica GC, which are well-known GCs with high-fracture toughness and machinability, respectively. By focusing on the [...] Read more.
Fracture behavior via a flexural test for a newly found CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 (CAS) glass-ceramic (GC) was compared with that of enstatite GC and mica GC, which are well-known GCs with high-fracture toughness and machinability, respectively. By focusing on the nonelastic load–displacement curves, CAS GC was characterized as a less brittle material similar to machinable mica GC, compared with enstatite GC, which showed higher fracture toughness, KIC. The microcrack toughening mechanism in CAS GC was supported by the nondestructive observation of microcracks around the Vickers indentation using the X-ray microcomputed tomography technique. The CAS GC also showed higher transparency than mica GC due to its low crystallinity. Moreover, the precursor glass had easy formability due to its low-liquidus temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glass-Ceramics: Improving Glass Properties through Crystallization)
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