The　effect　of　heat　treatment　on　microstructure　and　properties　of　SiO2-Li2O-K2O-Al2O3-ZrO2　glass-ceramics　was　investigated.　The　glasses　were　subjected　to　a　multi-stage　heat　treatment.　At　the　first　stage　at　650　degrees　C,　Li2SiO3　was　the　main　crystalline　phase　of　all　samples,　which　had　a　dimensional　change　with　prolonging　the　heating　time　from　3　h　to　72　h.　After　the　second　stage　treatment　at　830　degrees　C　for　3　h,　all　the　Li2SiO3　crystals　decomposed　and　Li2Si2O5　crystals　formed　with　an　opposite　dimensional　change　from　that　of　Li2SiO3.　These　Li2Si2O5　crystals　were　small,　which　could　contribute　to　forming　high　translucency.　The　third　stage　at　550　degrees　C　would　release　the　internal　strain　and　improve　samples＇　bending　strength,　which　could　reach　up　to　above　560　MPa.　The　sample　treated　for　48　h　at　the　first　stage　had　the　smallest　crystals　and　also　obtained　a　highest　real　in-line　transmission　of　29%　at　650　nm　with　a　thickness　of　1.45　mm　and　a　bending　strength　above　581　+/-　25　MPa.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.