Monopyroxenic Basalt-Based Glass-Ceramics

Uniform, ultrafine, microcrystalline, hard, pyroxenic glass-ceramic materials have been obtained successfully from basalt rock; instead of adding nucleation catalysts, the Fe0:Fe203, Ca0:Na20, and Ca0:Mg0 ratios have been rectified. This process was accomplished by deliberately adding the smallest permissible amounts of oxidizers, limestone, dolomite, and soda ash (as additives) that are necessary to fulfill the monominerality requirements; these requirements affect the melting, workability, crystallization and microstructure of the glass-ceramic. The melting temperature decreases as the ratios decrease (beyond certain limits); in addition, the workability, crystallization and microstructure also improve as the ratios decrease.