Multichannel conduction in alkali silicate glasses

Abstract

The qualitative change of the electrical conduction of alkali silicate glasses with alkali mixing is discussed in connection with dielectric and mechanical relaxation. The observed conduction is understood as the additive effect of two kinds of independent diffusion processes — I and II. In single alkali glass, diffusion process-I is always observed as the dominant conduction process. However, when one alkali is progressively substituted by another, the dominant conduction process is altered from diffusion process-I to II. In the mixed alkali glass containing equal amounts of two alkali ions, diffusion process-I disappears, so that only diffusion process-II is observed. Consequently, it becomes evident that the mixed alkali effect is not only the successive change of conductivity, but the alternation of the dominant conduction process.