Structure, thermal and crystallization behavior of lead-bismuth silicate glasses

Abstract

Lead-bismuth silicate glasses were synthesized using a standard melt-quenching technique, varying the compositions within the range of (80-x-y)PbO–(10+x)Bi2O3–(10+y)SiO2, where x and y were between 0 and 20 wt%. The glasses were subjected to comprehensive analysis, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, and dilatometry, to investigate their crystallization behavior, thermal properties, and structure. The obtained glass samples were confirmed to be amorphous through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectra analysis indicated that the glasses consisted mainly of PbO4, BiO6, and SiO4 structural units. Differential thermal analysis curves were used to estimate the glass transition, crystallization, and melting temperatures, and the results showed increased thermal stability and decreased crystallization tendency with increasing SiO2 content in the glass. X-ray diffraction analysis was utilized to identify the specific crystalline phases that were formed after the glass was subjected to heat treatment. Dilatometric measurements demonstrated that the investigated glasses possess a wide range of coefficient of thermal expansion values (6.8–11.1 ppm/°C), a low glass transition temperature (335–475°С), and a low dilatometric softening temperature (355–505°С). These results have significant implications for developing oxide glasses with specific thermal characteristics suitable for a wide range of applications.