Ferro Corporation
Sintering aid for glasses for machinable phyllosilicate based structures

Abstract:

A sintered machinable glass-ceramic is provided. The machinable glass-ceramic is formed by mixing phyllosilicate material having a sheet structure, with a glass fit and firing the mixture at relatively low temperatures to sinter the phyllosilicate, while maintaining the sheet-like morphology of the phyllosilicate and its associated cleaving properties. The sintered machinable glass-ceramic can be machined with conventional metal working tools and includes the electrical properties of the phyllosilicate. Producing the sintered machinable glass-ceramic does not require the relatively high-temperature bulk nucleation and crystallization needed to form sheet phyllosilicate phases in situ.