Glass microstructure characterization by laser light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy

Abstract

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and laser light scattering (LLS) have been used to characterize the microstructures of mixed alkali-lithia-potassia-silica glasses and soda lime silica glasses. In most cases the three methods complement one another very well. In the mixed alkali silicate glasses LLS measurements of particle size correlate very well with TEM measurements. In addition, there is a direct correlation between particle size measurements by both methods and flaw sizes calculated from strength measurements using the Griffith equation. In the soda lime silica system LLS measurements of the glasses prior to heat treatment in the temperature region of metastable liquid immiscibility correlate very well with SAXS measurements of the heat treated glasses. The merits of each method in studies involving these glass systems will be discussed.

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