Sintered glass-ceramics and glass-ceramic matrix composites from CRT panel glass

Sintering with simultaneous crystallization of powdered glass represents an interesting processing route for glass-ceramics, especially originating from wastes. Highly dense glass-ceramic samples may be obtained from a simple and short treatment at a relatively low temperature. In addition, glass-ceramic matrix composites may be obtained by mixing glass with suitable reinforcements. In this work sintered nepheline glass-ceramics, based on panel glass from cathode ray tubes, are illustrated. A limited addition of Al2O3 platelets caused a significant improvement in the mechanical properties (elastic modulus, bending strength, microhardness, fracture toughness), already remarkable for the un-reinforced glass-ceramic, compared with traditional nepheline glass-ceramics.