Synthesis of the glass-ceramics based on basalt

Abstract

In this paper, results and investigation of possibility of synthesis of the glass-ceramics based on basalt are presented. Glass-ceramic due to its specific properties (high hardness, abrasion resistance, good chemical consistency, etc.) has wide area of application in mining, civil engineering and building industry, metallurgy, for manufacturing of parts of equipment or devices, constructing materials, etc. For obtaining of the glass-ceramic basalt from Vrelo, Kopaonik deposit was used. A series of melting on various temperatures from 1150 to 1300 °C were performed. Synthesis parameters, temperature melting interval, and cooling rate were defined. Selection of composition of glassy mixture was performed in order to obtain satisfactory quality. On thus obtained products various conditions of thermal treatment were performed and optimal regime was determined: gradual heating up to 850 °C in time intervals of 1.5 h and progressive cooling gave good physico-mechanical properties. Structure of glass-ceramic samples obtained by melting of basalt after thermal processing is crypto-crystal accompanied by appearance of small low-crystallized aggregates. The structure also contains bubbles filled with either air of glass. These are initial results of investigation of application of basalt from Serbian deposits for obtaining glass-ceramics. These products are not carcinogenic and they can successfully substitute materials such as: asbest or various metallic materials. Technology applied in manufacturing of basalt is ecologically clean, which is of high importance from economical, ecological and energetically point of view