Probing crystallisation of a fluoro-apatite - mullite system using neutron diffraction

Real-time small angle neutron scattering and wide angle neutron scattering studies were undertaken concurrently on a glass ionomer of nominal composition 4.5(SiO2)-3(Al2O3)-1.5(P2O5)-3(CaO)-2(CaF2). Neutron studies were conducted as a function of temperature to investigate the crystallisation process. No amorphous phase separation was observed at room temperature and the onset of crystallisation was found to occur at 650 °C, which is 90 °C lower than previously reported. The first crystalline phase observed corresponded to fluorapatite; it was only upon further heating was the mullite phase became present. The crystallite size at 650 °C was found to be ~ 115 Å and the result was consistent across all measurements.