Glass-ceramics with well-crystallized whisker-type crystals were prepared by milling and heat treatment using fly ash from a thermal power plant and waste glass cullet. Various beat treatment temperatures [850, 900, 950 and 1000 degrees C] were used to obtain a glass-ceramics that have the optimum crystal phase and mechanical properties. The crystallization of a whisker-type phase in the matrix was achieved in the heat treatment temperature range of 950-1000 degrees C, and the whisker-type main crystal phase in the glass-ceramics was wollastonite [CaSiO3] The heat treatment temperature range [950-1000 degrees C] also brought about much better mechanical properties. Crystallinity, morphological properties, and chemical compositions were observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Various properties such as density, compressive strength, bending strength and chemical durability were also examined.

Keywords: glass-ceramics; milling; whisker type crystal; wollastonite