The effect of CeO₂ addition on crystallization and thermo-physical properties of lithium zinc silicate (LZS) glasses containing Li₂O-ZnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-Na₂O-P₂O₅ was investigated. The changes of CeO₂ contents (2-8 wt.%) had an obvious influence on the transition temperatures (T_g) and crystallization temperatures (T_c) of LZS glass-ceramics, and they increased with CeO₂ content increasing. According to XRD analysis, CeO₂ promoted the formation of cristobalite and β-spodumene crystals, and β-spodumene increased obviously. As the CeO₂ content increasing, the microstructure and microhardness (being 6.88 Gpa at 880 ^oC) of glass-ceramics had great changes. The average thermal expansion coefficient (20 - 450 ^oC) showed first increasing then decreasing, having a wide range. The maximum of thermal expansion coefficient was obtained when the glass-ceramics contained 4 wt.% CeO₂, being 175×10^-7 K^-1 (at 700 ^oC) and 178×10^-7 K^-1 (at 880 ^oC) respectively. Excellent thermo-physical properties indicate the glass has greater potential application, such as being used as sealing glass.

Keywords: Lithum zinc silicate, Crystallization, Thermal expansion coefficient, Microhardness