Investigation of mixed alkali effect on mechanical, structural and thermal properties of three-alkali borate glass system

Abstract

In the present communication, the results of investigation on mixed alkali effect (MAE) in mechanical, structural and thermal investigation of alkali zinc borate glasses with nominal composition 5Li2O–(25−x)K2O–xNa2O–60B2O3–10ZnO (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mol%) are reported. The samples were prepared using standard melt quenching technique. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calarometry (DSC) and Vickers indentation studies were performed to investigate the mixed alkali effect in the samples. From the DSC studies, it was observed that the thermal parameters viz., glass transition temperature (Tg), glass melting temperature (Tm), glass crystallization temperature (Tc), glass stability (S) and fragility (F) exhibit a non linear variation with respect to increase in compositional parameter (RNa). This behavior clearly indicated the presence of strong MAE in the samples. FTIR studies confirmed the presence of both [BO3] and [BO4] units, indicating the present glass networks to be made up of these two units placed in different structural groups. The non linear variation of peak positions of B–O–B bending and stretching of [BO3] and [BO4] units of each glass sample explain the role of modifier alkali elements and validates the existence of strong MAE. The microhardness and fracture toughness of the samples were measured using Vickers micro indentation technique and non linear variation of both the properties have been observed confirming the presence of MAE in these glass samples.