High Strength Pyroxene-Based Glass- Ceramic Foams in the Presence of Fe2O3

Strong glass-ceramic foams with a compressive strength of 20 MPa were prepared by adding various amounts of Fe2O3 to a soda lime-based glass composition, and SiC as a foaming agent. The foams were prepared by firing the compacted samples in the range of 750–950°C for different soaking times. The crystallization behavior of the samples was investigated by Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA), Scanning Electron Microscope, and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). Based on the results, solid solutions of pyroxene groups were crystallized by the surface mechanism, between 730˚C and 900˚C during the firing of the specimens, and their amounts increases with increasing of the added iron oxide. Besides, we found that Fe2O3 neither acts as a nucleant for pyroxene nor as an oxidizer for SiC. The results also showed that the compressive strength as well as the crystallization behavior of the foams was influenced by the presence of the SiC particles.