Introduction and effect of structural variations in inorganic polymers and glass networks

Abstract

Oxide glasses, being thermoplastic polymers, should be subject to considerable property variations as a result of differences in the network structure. Melting point, viscosity, and strength are among the properties that are closely related to network connectivity and distribution of the network bonds in the polymer. Glass formation by melting, however, does not allow a significant variation in network parameters, except by compositional changes. Chemical polymerization, on the other hand, permits the introduction of structural variations into the polymer network, and provides preparation of modified oxide glasses without compositional alterations. Silica network formation from silicon alkoxides is used as a model in driving relationships between physical and structural parameters, and supporting experimental evidence is presented. Some general effects of these parameters in several glass systems are included.