Effect of sintering parameters on the densification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of SrO-CaO-ZnO-Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2-TiO2 based glass sealant

In this study, sintering experiments were carried out on SrO-CaO-ZnO-Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2-TiO2 glass system with varying temperature, time and heating rates. The density of samples increases with the increase in temperature from 750 to 850?C. Thereafter, significant improvement in density is not noticed. The dwell time and heating rate have no marked impact on the improvement in density. From 850?C onwards, samples exhibit the peaks of crystalline phases confirmed by XRD. SEM images show the progressive increase in the compactness of microstructure with the reduction in porosity. The increase in HV with the increase in sintering temperature is attributed to the simultaneous increase in density. The highest hardness was obtained for the sample sintered within 850-950?C for 1h and a heating rate of 8?C/min. The Young's modulus is found to be of similar trend, like hardness. The CTE of annealed and sintered glass is 10.2 ? 10?6 and 9.8 ? 10?6/?C, respectively.