Synthesis and preliminary processing of the sol-gel derived β-quartz lithium aluminum silicates

Lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glass-ceramic compositions with and without phosphorus have been synthesized using the sol-gel technique. Resulting LAS-type powders are herein designated as NZ and NZP. X-ray analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), particle size and thermal dilatometric measurements have been performed on these samples. The NZ and NZP powders in calcined form, as well as a commercially-available LAS glass-ceramic, produce an X-ray diffraction pattern very similar to the pattern of virgilite LixA1xSi3−xO6 (x = 0.5–1.0). There is very little difference between the powders with and without phosphorus in the diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). Preliminary results show that the material can be easily processed.