Glass-ceramics in the system BaO/TiO2(ZrO2)/Al2O3/B2O3 and their thermal expansion

Glasses in the system BaO/TiO₂(ZrO₂)/Al₂O₃/B₂O₃ were melted from the raw materials with and without the addition of platinum. They were crystallized in two steps at 720 and 780 °C. TiO₂ does not act as nucleating agent in this system, but widely prevents crystallization. Samples additionally doped with platinum show the crystallization of BaAl₂B₂O₇. However, samples containing equimolar quantities of TiO₂ and ZrO₂ showed the crystallization of this phase without the addition of platinum. The thermal expansion coefficients of samples with TiO₂-concentration ?7 mol% or TiO₂/ZrO₂-concentrations ?5 mol% exhibit zero or even slightly negative thermal expansion coefficients.