Abstract: The strengthening of lithium mica-containing glass-ceramics by a sol-gel coating, in order to improve its mechanical properties, was studied by using XRD, SEM and mechanical test. The results show that the applied coating increases the bending stress of uncoated lithium mica-cotaining glass-ceramics about 8% to 48%. The mechanism of strengthening dominantly ascribes to infiltrating the sol into microporous lithium mica-containing glass-ceramics ,filling in the micropores and healing up the microcracks.

Key words: lithium mica-containing glass-ceramics, sol-gel, strengthening