A novel route for fabrication of machinable fluoramphibole glass–ceramics

A machinable fluoramphibole glass–ceramic was fabricated by mixing fluormica crystals with recycled glass powder and sintering between 860 °C and 1000 °C. The effects of sintering temperature on reactive crystallizing behaviors, microstructures, compressive strength, hardness and drilling speed of the glass–ceramic were studied. Fluoramphibole crystals are formed via an interaction between fluormica crystals and glass powder during the sintering process. These glass–ceramics have good machinability and can be turned, drilled and tapped.