Oxide Glass Ceramics: A Paradigm of Stability and Diversity
Oxide-based glass ceramics comprise half of the glass ceramic family. They are based on silicon dioxide, with the addition of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, and other components to adjust properties. For example, lithium aluminum silicate glass ceramics have a near-zero coefficient of thermal expansion, making them ideal for astronomical telescope lenses; while borosilicate types, due to their excellent heat resistance, are commonly used in laboratory glassware and cookware. These materials generally exhibit strong chemical stability, but the light transmittance of some varieties fluctuates with changes in composition.
Non-Oxide Glass Ceramics: Vanguards for Special Applications
Nitride-based: Represented by silicon nitride, with a hardness approaching diamond, suitable for manufacturing cutting tools.
Carbide-based: Withstanding temperatures up to 1600℃, commonly found in hot-end components of aerospace engines.
Disulfide-based compounds: Unique infrared transmittance, used in optical components of thermal imagers.
These materials perform exceptionally well in extreme environments, but have high production costs and are difficult to process.
Composite Glass Ceramics: Synergistic Evolution of Performance
By embedding metal particles, fibers, etc., into the glass ceramic matrix, composite materials with multiple properties have been created. For example, wear-resistant tungsten carbide-containing materials are used in mechanical seals, increasing their lifespan by three times; antistatic materials with added conductive phases solve the problem of static electricity buildup in the electronics industry. These materials are driving innovation in fields such as precision manufacturing and new energy.
