Effect of Y2O3 addition on viscosity and crystallization of the lithium aluminosilicate glasses

The melting and crystallization behaviors of lithium aluminosilicate (LAS) glasses containing Y2O3 were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and viscosity test. Effects of Y2O3 on the viscosity of LAS glasses were investigated from the softening point temperature to melting temperature. It was indicated that the introduction of yttria effectively decreased the melting temperature and viscosity of LAS glasses. The DTA and XRD results showed that yttria controlled the crystallization of LAS glasses by increasing the crystallization peak temperature (Tp) and activation energies (E), and the main crystalline phase of glass–ceramics was β-spodumene.