Microwave synthesis and properties of NaPO3–SnO–Nb2O5 glasses

摘要

Tin niobiophosphate glasses were produced using a domestic microwave oven under a nitrogen flow. The fast microwave melting method and the protective atmosphere prevent the oxidation of SnO. After 10 min of heating, the NaPO3, SnO, and Nb2O5 mixtures are homogeneous and permit to obtain transparent glasses. Three series of glasses with different Sn/Nb ratio were studied to determine the influence of each oxide. The glass transition temperature increases linearly with the amount of Nb2O5 and SnO. These variations are more important for compositions with high metallic cation proportions and with a low Sn/Nb ratio. The same evolutions were observed for the density, Vickers hardness, and elastic modulus while the thermal expansion coefficient decreases monotonously. The simultaneous insertion of SnO and Nb2O5 in phosphate glass matrix leads to a progressive strengthening of the glass network. The chemical durability of the glasses also increases as a function of the amount of metal oxides. We prepared a bulk glass sample with a dissolution rate of about 3.3 × 10−8 g cm−2 min−1 in renewed water conditions at 95 °C. This durability is equivalent to those of the window glass whereas the glass transition temperature remains lower than 485 °C.