Synthesis and characterization of single phase and low temperature co-fired cordierite glass-ceramics from perlite

Single alpha-cordierite glass-ceramics for low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCCs) substrates were prepared successfully from perlite as the basic raw material. The glass-ceramics could be highly densified above 850 degrees C and the a-cordierite being the only crystalline phase precipitated from the glass power sintered within 900-950 degrees C. With increasing sintering temperature or sintering holding time, mu-cordierite was effectively transformed into a-cordierite, and completely transformed into ot-cordierite at 900 degrees C for 6 h. The synthesized single-phase a-cordierite glass-ceramics possessed low dielectric constants (5.6-6.1), low dielectric losses (0.0019-0.02), appropriate flexural strength (112-117 MPa) and suitable coefficients of thermal expansion (2.56-2.91 x 10(-6) K-1), which qualify them as a potential material for LTCC substrates application. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.