Preparation and characterisation of alkoxide-derived celsian glass-ceramic

An all-alkoxide route to stoichiometric celsian glass has been developed. Sintering to 97% of full glass density, prior to the onset of appreciable crystallisation, was achieved after 30 min at 900 °C. However, crystallisation of metastable hexacelsian, rather than the preferred monoclinic celsian, from stoichiometric glass was difficult to avoid.