Tribology, mechanical properties and coloration of a mica glass-ceramic

The research employed pigments, Fe2O3 and CeO2, into the glass frit for adjustable mechanical properties and coloration. Disc samples were prepared to determine microstructures and mechanical properties in terms of tribology and nano-indentation hardness as well as biaxial flexural strength. The glass system presented the crystalline phases, by XRD, of phlogopite Ca-mica, fluorapatite, stishovite, anorthite and strontium apatite. Furthermore, SEM micrographs revealed rod-like microstructures and parent glass phase in all specimens 1) GC, 2) GC + 1wt% CeO2, 3) GC + 0.1wt% Fe2O3 and 4) GC + 1wt% CeO2 + 0.1wt% Fe2O3. For the tribology test, specimens were tested by a pin-on-disc tribometer with 10 N load and 1,000 wear cycles. The obtained values of wear rate and friction coefficient of GCF were better than those of others. The nanoindentation hardness results showed that GC exhibited 3.2 GPa which lower than those of GCC, GCF and GCCF, respectively. The addition of pigments affected reddish yellow color. After crystallization, the contrast ratio is around 0.72 for GC and decreases to 58-75% for the mica glass-ceramics that contain the pigments. The values of biaxial flexural strength of all were acceptable (≥100 MPa) according to ISO 6872:2015.