Glasses durability

The durability of a glass is a function of both its kinetic rate of approach to equilibrium and its final thermodynamic equilibrium state in an aqueous environment [8,9]. Time-dependent corrosion of many glasses has been subjected to kinetic models [5,10-12]. Ion exchange, diffusion, and protective layer formation mechanisms are explained by these models. 

Silicates exist both in crystalline and amorphous forms. The stability of these two forms have been predicted with the help of chemical thermodynamics [8,9,13-18]. With this, glass durability could be predicted with the knowledge of glass composition. 

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Glass durability tests There are two types of durability tests for glassware, viz. grain or powder tests and whole articles tests. 

A statement of standard tests for glass durability is given in Reference 14. G/ass Durability Testing... 

Caution is needed in applying the results of general chemical tests for glass durability across a wide spectrum of glass properties. Glass fibre strengths, for example, are sensitive to the physical, as well as the chemical, nature of the environment and should only be assessed by the direct strength measurements in conditions which closely approximate the final application situation . 

Jantzen, C.M. and Plodinec, M.J. (1984). Thermodynamic model of natural, Medieval and nuclear waste glass durability. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 67 207-223. 

Jantzen, C. M. 1984. Effects of Eh (oxidation potential) on borosilicate waste glass durability. Advances in Ceramics, 8, 385-393. 

Jantzen, C. M. 1988. Prediction of glass durability as a function of glass composition and test conditions thermodynamics and kinetics. In Bickford, D. F., Boulos, E. N. et al. (eds) Advances in the Fusion of Glass Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on the Advances in the Fusion of Glass, 24.1-24.17. 

White, W. B. (1988). Glass structure and glass durability. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 125,109. 

Borate glasses have boron as the network former. These glasses absorb water. They are also attacked by acids and alkalis. Boron trioxide is the main additive in borate glasses. Durability of the borate glass is poor. Because of their excellent optical properties, they are widely used. 

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