Ferrosilicate glass ceramics based on wastes from ore concentration

We showed in this work that there is a possibility of recycling the wastes derived from iron ore concentration by using glass technology. The compositions of new glass ceramics with high technological and decorative properties were developed. The influence of Al2O3, MgO and Na2O additives to the waste from ore benefication on the parameters of the synthesized glass and its crystallization products was studied. The optimal temperatures of synthesis, annealing and crystallization of glass samples in the systems (Fe2O3–FeO)–SiO2–Al2O3–Na2O and (Fe2O3–FeO)–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO were shown to be 1450100С, 500–6000С and 700–8000C, respectively. It was established that the redox conditions of crystallization of glasses in the system (FeO–Fe2O3)–SiO2–Al2O3–Na2O strongly affect the nature of the iron-containing phases that are formed: oxidative conditions favors the formation of hematite (Fe2O3) and aegirinite (Na2OFe2O34SiO2), whereas reducing conditions contributes to the formation of wustite (FeO) and fayalite (2FeOSiO2). In the system (FeO–Fe2O3)–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO under both oxidative and reducing conditions of crystallization, the same crystalline phases appear: olivine (2(Mg,Fe)OSiO2), hercin (FeOAl2O3) and iron metasilicate (FeOSiO2). It was shown that the crystallization of samples under reducing conditions allows producing materials with higher microhardness. The surface layer of glasses and glass ceramics exhibited less microhardness than their deep layers.