Effect of Dolomite Addition on the Structure and Properties of Multicomponent Amphibolite Glasses

The structure and properties of the glass can be modified by introducing appropriate additives. Dolomite is one of the primary raw materials modifying the properties of glass, in which the essential component is calcium-magnesium double carbonate CaCO₃∙MgCO₃. The paper presents the research results on glasses obtained by smelting pure amphibolite and amphibolite modified with 10 and 20% dolomite additives. The raw material used was mined in the Poland region of Lower Silesia. The glass melting process was carried out in an electric furnace at 1450 °C for 2 h. The structure and properties of the glasses and crystallization products were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Viscosity and Vickers microhardness were also measured. It was found that the modification of amphibolite glass by adding dolomite affects the glasses' properties and structure. The research results determined the effect of dolomite addition on the properties of alumino-silicate glasses in terms of the mineral fibre products used in the construction industry.