In the present work, we studied a "Mixed Alkaline-Earth Effect", i.e. the non-linear behaviour showed by the glass transition temperature as well as by the compressive strength of glasses of the CaO-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 system, when a part of the CaO contained in them was substituted by a BaO/SrO mixture, in variable molar proportions. An important factor for the occurrence of this phenomenon was the difference in atomic weight, ionic radii and field strength of the Ba 2+ and Sr 2+ ions in comparison with those corresponding to the Ca 2+ ion. Another factor considered was the likely occurrence of a microphase separation caused by the addition of BaO and/or SrO, together with the presence of F -and Mg 2+ in the glasses. Other glass properties studied as a function of the CaO substitution level were density, glass molar volume, oxygen molar volume, packing fraction, and chemical resistance in neutral, basic and acidic aqueous media. In general, the structural reinforcement of the glass network caused by the partial substitution of CaO by a BaO/SrO mixture was accompanied by an improvement in the alkaline resistance of the materials, which were found to be suitable for applications in corrosive environments, especially in basic media. En el presente trabajo, se estudia el comportamiento no lineal mostrado por la temperatura de transición vítrea y por la resistencia a la compresión de vidrios del sistema CaO-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 , cuando una parte del CaO contenido en los mismos es sustituido por una mezcla de BaO/SrO, en relación molar variable. Factores importantes para que se de este comportamiento son la diferencia entre pesos atómicos, radios iónicos e intensidad de campo de los iones Ba 2+ y Sr 2+ y los del propio ión Ca 2+. Otro factor considerado ha sido la probable existencia de una separación de microfases originada por la adición de BaO y/o SrO, junto con la presencia de flúor y magnesio en los vidrios. Otras propiedades estudiadas, en función del CaO sustituido, han sido la densidad, el volumen molar del vidrio, el volumen molar del oxígeno, la fracción de empaquetamiento, y la resistencia química en medios acuosos neutros, básicos y ácidos. En general, el refuerzo estructural del retículo vítreo causado por la sustitución parcial del CaO por una mezcla de BaO/SrO viene acompañada por una mejora en la resistencia alcalina, lo que hace que estos materiales sean adecuados para aplicaciones en ambientes corrosivos y especialmente en medios básicos.

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In the present work, the characterization of monolithic materials formulated at different weight concentrations was conducted; employing two of the ceramic materials most used in the refractory industry, zircon and alumina. These monolithic materials were fabricated using colloidal techniques, specifically plaster casting mold, in order to obtain pieces with a higher particle consolidation and density, reducing porosity to lower values than the obtained using traditional shaping process of these materials. The monoliths were obtained employing two ceramic powders with different average particle size and morphology to achieve better packing in the green body. This characterization was carried out, firstly, determining the particle size of the raw materials by laser diffraction and the evaluation of particle morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Aqueous suspensions were formulated by containing both ceramic materials, which were dispersed with Tamol 963, and analyzed by rheometric techniques. Subsequently, bars were manufactured having the following dimensions; 4 mm wide, 3 mm thick and 45 mm in length, according to ASTM C1161-02cc, to be characterized microstructural and mechanically, also was observed the fracture habit after the mechanical test. As a final result, the materials formulated at higher alumina content showed higher density values, reaching 94.95% of the theoretical density, also showed a higher thermal expansion coefficient and high rupture modulus, reaching up to 600 MPa and Young modulus of 230 GPa. From the microstructure characterization it was observed that alumina matrix shows a transgranular fracture across the grains and zircon particles exhibited intergranular fracture among the grain boundaries.

In this work, a commercial zircon flour of 99% purity and mean particle size of 10μm is used. Suspension stabilization process is carried out using the electrostatic stabilization mechanism at pH 11 employing Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Tape casting suspensions are formulated with binding systems obtained by the combination of polyvinyl alcohol with polyethylene glycol, additionally the binding system is added at different binder:plasticizer ratio ranging from 1:1 to 3:1. Suspensions are characterized rheologically determining its type and flow properties by obtaining flow and viscosity curves. Suspensions are tape cast on vinyl-acetate substrates and are dried at room conditions to determine some physical properties of the obtained tapes and to correlate the rheological with the physical properties. The experimental results show that tape casting suspensions have a shear thinning flow type, yield points and flow indexes varying as a function of binder system combination and binder:plasticizer ratio. Also, the binder system has a strong influence on the green tapes characteristics.