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re simplicity can be expected. However, in our previous studies glass–ceramics prepared with pure blastfurnace slag show poor properties [11]. Therefore, some sintering additives are needed. In this study, we show when using blastfurnace slag to prepare glass–ceramics by a conventional ceramics route, if suitable amount of potashfeldspar is added. Glass–ceramics with high microhardness andbending strength as well as lower water absorption can be obtained. 2. Experimental procedure The slag (provided by Anyang iron Corporation of China) was pulverized by ball milling for about 24 h (size in the range of 10–20 mm), and then blended with 5–10 wt% potash feldspar powder. The mixtures were ball milling for 2 h. We use K5, K8 and K10 to denote the weight percent of potash feldspar in the samples. The process used in our study is illustrated in Fig. 1. The blended powders were uniaxially pressed in a steel die at room temperature, using a hydraulic pressure of 40–60 MP a without any binder. The obtained green bodies were sintered in air at nucleation temperature of 720–760℃ and crystallization temperature of 800–900℃ for different times (from 20 to 60 min), with heating rates of 2–5 ℃ /min, followed by a hightemperature treatment at 1200℃ The blended powders were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) (Labsys, Setaram, France) in air with a heating rate of 10 ℃ /min from room temperature to 1100 ℃ . The phase of the blastfurnace slag and obtained glass–ceramics were examined by Xray diffraction (XRD) (Model D/MAX3B, RIGAKU, Japan). The samples surfaces were polished and corroded in HF (5 vol%) for 20 s and then observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Model JSM5610LV, JEOL, Japan). The density of the samples was measured by the Archimedes method. The microhardness was measured by a microhardnesstester (Model HX 1000TM, Taiming, China) with a measuring force of N and a load time 20 s. Samples for bending strength tests with dimensions of 3 mm _ 4 mm_ 30 mm were carefully polished and tested by a universal testing machine (Zwick/Roell Z030, Germany). The chemical resistance of glass–ceramics was tested by a chemical etch method. The samples were corroded in the HCl ( vol%) and NaOH ( vol%) solution fo