The Role of Alteration Phases in Influencing the Kinetics of Glass Dissolution

Abstract

The potential effect of alteration phases on the kinetics of glass corrosion has been examined in a preliminary series of Product Consistency Tests (0.5, 1, 3, 7, 35, and 91 days). Crushed samples of a relatively simple Li-Na-Ca-K-Al-B-Si glass were reacted in the presence of a relatively high ionic strength fluid, to which various alteration phases (analcime, adularia, chabazite, or Na-montmorillonite) were added as “seed-crystals”. The release of boron and lithium were used to monitor the corrosion rate of the glass. In general, corrosion rates varied only slightly between the tests with different seed-crystals types. Boron and lithium contents in tests with analcime or adularia were slightly higher than tests with Na-montmorillonite or chabazite present. Silicon concentrations did not display any consistent variation over the testing interval, remaining relatively similar to the starting leachant value of 3.5 × 10−2 M. The concentration of aluminum, however, decreased significantly during the first 35 days of testing and could be inversely correlated to boron and lithium concentrations. The concentration of aluminum then increased between 35 and 91 days, whereas boron and lithium concentrations remained relatively static. The noted correlation between aluminum and boron (or lithium) suggests a coupling of the rate of glass corrosion with aluminum concentration.