Effect of Nucleating Agents on the Crystallization and Microstructural Characteristics of Blast Furnace Slag Derived Glass-Ceramics

Abstract

Blast furnace slag collected from Bhilai Steel Plant, Chattishgarh, India, was used to prepare glass-ceramics using different nucleating agents. The slag with nucleating agent was melted at 1475°C for 2 h for homogenization and moulded into rectangular bars followed by annealing at 700°C for 15 min. The crystallization temperature was shifted towards higher value in presence of nucleating agent. Three nucleating agents were selected, i.e. ZrO2, TiO2 and P2O5. Two heat-treatment schedules were used. A morphological change in microstructure was noticed with different nucleating oxides.