Aluminosilicate Solid-Waste-Derived Glass-Ceramics: A Review of Microstructural Design, Thermal Performance, and Environmental Safety

This review critically evaluates glass-ceramics derived from aluminosilicate solid wastes through the linked framework of raw-material chemistry, the processing route, microstructure, thermal performance, and environmental safety. Waste-derived CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 (CAS) and CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 (CMAS) systems currently provide the most developed basis for dense and porous building products, whereas evidence for other compositional systems remains less mature. Across these materials, phase assemblage, residual-glass connectivity, crystallized pore-wall integrity, and pore structure jointly govern thermal stability, heat transfer, dimensional stability, cracking behavior, and mechanical-property retention after high-temperature treatment. Bulk crystallization and powder sintering are the principal demonstrated preparation routes, although their applicability depends strongly on waste composition, glass-forming ability, and processing windows. Future studies should integrate multi-source waste design, low-energy processing, standardized thermal and mechanical characterization, long-term leaching assessment, and life-cycle analysis to establish reliable performance and environmental boundaries for practical applications.