Amorphous phase separation and crystallization in a lithium silicate glass prepared by the sol-gel method

A 10Li₂O---90SiO₂ (mol%) gel-glass has been prepared by using tetramethyl orthosilicate and lithium iso-propoxide as starting materials. The phase separation and crystallization behaviour was compared with the corresponding conventionally melted glass using DTA, X-ray diffraction and TEM. The same crystallization phase was found in both the gel glass and melted glass upon heating above 650°C. However, the rate of crystallization in the gel-glass was higher than in the melted glass. TEM revealed amorphous phase separation in the gel glass and melted glass. However, the morphologies were different, an interconnected microstructure being observed in the gel glass and a droplet structure in the melted glass. These differences can be partly attributed to differences in OH content. Other potential influencing factors are also considered. After 650°C for 2 h lithium disilicate crystals were observed in the volume of the gel glass by TEM. As the crystals grew they absorbed Li₂O from the surrounding lithia-rich amorphous phase so that silica-rich (lithia depleted) diffusion zones formed around them.