Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Transparent Li2O-SiO2 Microspheres Prepared by Plasma Melting

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2026.0198

Abstract

Abstract:

In this study， Li₂O-SiO₂ transparent microspheres with different compositions were fabricated via a combined spray granulation and plasma melting spheroidization process. Their microstructure， structural characteristics， and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. The results indicate that， after spheroidization in the Li₂O-SiO₂ system， increasing the mole fraction of Li₂O induces a structural transformation from an amorphous to a crystalline state. Meanwhile， the silicate network gradually depolymerizes， the proportion of non-bridging oxygens increases， and the structural units evolve from highly polymerized to less polymerized configurations. Mechanical testing demonstrates that the Vickers hardness and elastic modulus of the microspheres are strongly dependent on composition and structure. Samples with lower Li₂O content （33.3%， mole fraction） exhibit higher hardness and modulus values， with a maximum Vickers hardness of 5.83 GPa and an elastic modulus of 83.39 GPa. This research provide a valuable reference for the composition design and mechanical performance control of silicate microspheres. The fabricated microspheres have potential applications in functional structural materials.

Key words: plasma spheroidization, Li₂O-SiO₂ system, transparent microsphere, microstructure, Vickers hardness, elastic modulus

CLC Number:

TQ171

WEN Bin, ZHANG Hanxiao, WU Yuesheng, XIE Jun, ZHANG Jihong. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Transparent Li₂O-SiO₂ Microspheres Prepared by Plasma Melting[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(9): 3289-3298.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 SEM images of precursor of Li2O-SiO2 system

Fig.2 SEM images of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.3 EDS images of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.4 Ultra-depth-of-field micrograph of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.5 Particle size distribution of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.6 XRD patterns of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.7 Raman spectra of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.8 FTIR spectra of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

Fig.9 NMR spectra of Li2O-SiO2 microspheres with different compositions

Table 1 Relative fractions of Q n structural units in Li2O-SiO2 microspheres with different compositions （expressed as number fractions derived from integrated spectral peak areas）

Li₂O mole fraction/%	Relative fraction of Q ⁿ /%
Li₂O mole fraction/%	Q¹	Q²	Q³	Q⁴
33.3	0.48	2.71	75.54	21.27
35.7	1.31	7.50	64.29	26.90
40.0	28.61	36.30	17.65	17.44
45.5	20.88	59.51	6.45	13.16

Fig.10 Vickers hardness and elastic modulus in Li2O-SiO2 microspheres

References 21

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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Transparent Li₂O-SiO₂ Microspheres Prepared by Plasma Melting

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