The effects of temperature, pressure and water on the preparation of glass-mica composite material

Abstract

A systematic investigation on the fabrication of glass-mica composite materials from recycled colourless soda-lime glass powders and phlogopite-type mica powders has been conducted. Mixtures of two specific compositions of the glass-mica system were used and the investigation was based on several chosen processing parameters. When compacted powder samples were sintered at temperatures in the range 780 to 900° C, samples of one composition formed a composite material having a cellular structure; whereas samples of the other composition formed a composite material having a highly-dense ceramic structure. Sample evaluations showed that both the sintering temperature and the quantity of water which is added to the glass-mica mixtures as wetting agent in the powder compaction process are sensitive processing parameters. They can control the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the glass-mica composite material. It was found that when glass-mica dry mixtures were prepared with the addition of a quantity of water equivalent to about 10% of the sample weight and sintered at the temperature of 850° C, the resultant composite material exhibited optimum physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The compressive strength and thermal insulating value of the glass-mica composite material with the densified structure are found to be superior to those of several conventional building materials, such as masonary products, lightweight concrete and soda-lime glass components. The experimental findings suggest that the glass-mica composite material is a potential structural element for building construction applications as it may contribute to energy conservation.