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, using SiC as a foaming agent. The foams were prepared by heat treatment of the compacted samples in the range of 750–950°C and various 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 and 900 ̊C, and their amounts increased with the increase in the added iron oxide. In addition, 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 were influenced by the presence of the SiC particles.