Extruded ZrSiO4 particulate-reinforced LZSA glass–ceramics matrix composite

This work reports on the characterization of ZrSiO4 particulate-reinforced Li2O–ZrO2–SiO2–Al2O3 (LZSA) glass–ceramic matrix composite added with bentonite as binder and formed by extrusion. The glass batches and composites were characterized on the point of view of their typical physical/mechanical and chemical properties. Composition with 60 wt.% ZrSiO4 was preliminary selected, since it showed the best results in terms of bending strength (190 MPa) and deep abrasion resistance (51 mm3). The same composition as before but added with 7 wt.% bentonite was selected for further studies since it exhibited the highest plasticity index, which resulted in good billets after extrusion. In this last case, the extruded samples, after sintering at 1150 °C for 10 min, showed a thermal linear shrinkage of 14% and deep abrasion resistance and bending strength of 51 mm3 and 220 MPa, respectively.