Glass-ceramics materials from basaltic rocks and some industrial waste

Preparation of cheap technical glass-ceramic materials by crystallizing glasses derived from Saudi basaltic rocks and ceramic waste materials were investigated. The wastes of ceramic sanitary plants in Saudi Arabia were used. The wastes were formed during the manufacturing of the sanitary ware and used in glass batches, in amounts ranging between 10–50 wt.% of batch constituents. Batches were melted and then caste into discs and rod shapes and subjected to heat-treatment, to induce crystallization. Different techniques were used in the present study including differential thermal analysis, optical and scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction indentation, micro hardness, bending strengths, and water absorption. The obtained glass-ceramic materials were mainly composed of pyroxenes, anorthite, olivine and magnetite, of ultra-fine grained and uniform textures as showed by SEM. The obtained glass-ceramic materials are characterized by high values of hardness ranging between 9624 and 10074 MPa, zero water absorption and bending strengths values ranged between 92 and 135 MPa, which makes them suitable for many applications under aggressive mechanical conditions.