Influence of Structural Factors on the Mechanical Strength of Glass-Ceramic Proppants

The results of an investigation of the influence of the chemical composition, material structure, crystallization features, and isomorphic substitutions in pyroxene solid solutions of the augite type on the mechanical characteristics of glass ceramics are presented. The mechanism of structure formation is demonstrated, which consists in the crystallization of chromium spinel and subsequent growth on its surface of crystals of a pyroxene solid solution of the augite type in the form of spherical intergrowths, which effects high mechanical strength of glass-ceramic proppants. It was found that on isomorphic substitutions occurring in the diopside-augite series the mechanical strength of glass-ceramic proppants increases, which is correlated with a reduction of bond lengths and an increase in their number as well as compaction of the unit cell.