Competitive crystallization of β-Zn2SiO4 and ZnO in an aluminosilicate glass.

Transparent glass-ceramics containing a mixture of ZnO and β-Zn 2 SiO 4 or solely ZnO are fabricated through a competitive crystallization behavior of ZnO and β-Zn 2 SiO 4 in a potassium zinc aluminosilicate glass. Both ZnO and β-Zn 2 SiO 4 are precipitated simultaneously at the initial stage of thermal treatment, whereas sole crystallization of ZnO occurs when thermal treatments are performed at a high temperature (> 640 °C for 20 h) or for a long period of time (> 10 h at 650 °C). A detailed Raman scattering study and microscopic observation suggest that this competitive crystallization is due to the decomposition of β-Zn 2 SiO 4 into ZnO and SiO 2 during thermal treatment. This work would be of interest to the fabrication of active ions doped luminescent glass-ceramics by selective crystallization of ZnO and β-Zn 2 SiO 4 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]