ZEOLITES AS CERAMICS: ENGINEERING NEW AND NOVEL CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS AND MICROSTRUCTURES FROM MOLECULAR SIEVES

ABSTRACT The unique properties of properly selected and modified zeolites yield precursors with novel sintering behaviors and allow the production of ceramics with unusual compositions and characteristics. This report introduces a novel family of zeolite-derived variable thermal expansion glass ceramics based on leucite-pollucite solid solutions. The glass ceramics are made by the sintering of powders derived from potassium, rubidium, and cesium exchanged zeolites and display a wide variety of properties that are determined by the cationic form and SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio of the precursor zeolites.