Behavior of water in sodium and potassium borosilicate glasses

Abstract

IR spectroscopy was used to study the behavior of water in model glasses of the systems Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 and K2O-B2O3-SiO2. It was determined that hydroxyl groups and water in molecular form are present in such alkali borosilicate glasses obtained by quenching water-bearing melt. The water distribution between its forms and silicate and borate components of the glass structure depends on their chemical composition. Proton-cation exchange with the participation of non-bridge oxygen atoms and coordinated alkali-metal ions is involved in the process leading to the formation of hydroxyl groups. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.