Critical Experiments and Thermodynamic Modeling of the Li2O-SiO2 System

Phase equilibria studies were performed in the Li2O-SiO2 system for heat-treated samples using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The temperature of the eutectic reaction (Liq ⇌ Li4SiO4 + Li2SiO3) was experimentally determined at 1289 K using Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). No evidences of the Li6Si2O7 formation was found by the experimental investigation and therefore, it was not considered. Heat capacity of the Li8SiO6 phase was measured using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Solid phases of the Li2O-SiO2 system were described as stoichiometric compounds and liquid phases by two-sublattice partially ionic liquid model. Four stoichiometric intermediate compounds were considered to be stable (Li8SiO6, Li4SiO4, Li2SiO3 and Li2Si2O5). The polymorphic transformation in Li2Si2O5 phase was accounted and the metastable liquid miscibility gap on SiO2-rich side was reproduced. The calculated phase diagram satisfactorily agrees with the experimental phase equilibria as well as calculated thermodynamic properties reproduces experimental values within uncertainty limits.