Tailoring Li2Si2O5 rod-like particles and their simultaneously strengthening and toughening effects on lithium disilicate glass-ceramics

• Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods were firstly synthesized by a modified solid-state sintering method. • Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods modified glass-ceramics indicated higher mechanical properties. • Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods can be used to strengthen and toughen glass-ceramics. To achieve high performance of glass-ceramics, it is urgent to open a new path to enhance the mechanical properties. In this study, Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods were successfully synthesized by a modified two-step solid-state reaction sintering method. The rod aspect ratio could be controlled by adjusting the second stage sintering time. The evolution process of such Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods and their possible formation mechanism were put forward. For the first time, the Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods were used to strengthen and toughen the homologous Li 2 Si 2 O 5 glass-ceramic in a typical quaternary Li 2 O-SiO 2 -K 2 O-La 2 O 3 system, which indicates a high flexural strength and toughness of 315±24 MPa and 2.42±0.6 MPa·m 1/2 , respectively. In this glass-ceramic, the microstructure features a densely stagger network formed by the elongated rods and smaller Li 2 Si 2 O 5 crystals in the glass matrix, contributing to the improvement of mechanical properties. The results demonstrate that Li 2 Si 2 O 5 rods could be an excellent candidate for strengthening and toughening glass-ceramics.