CHEMICAL DURABILITY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHOSPHATE GLASSES CONTAINING IRON, SODIUM AND CHROMIUM

In order to prepare a high quality glass with high water resistance, we investigated chromium ironphosphate glass because of its improved chemical durability. The introduction of chromium in sodiumiron-phosphate glasses is used to compare its effect with iron in inhibition of corrosion. The sodiumchromium-iron phosphate glass of composition 30Fe2O3-xCr2O3-(15-x)Na2O-55P2O5 (mol %),with (0≤x≤4)was produced by melting batches of (99,98% pure) Cr2O3, Fe2O3, Na2CO3, and (NH4)2HPO4 at 1080°C forone hour and pouring the liquid into the bench. The sample was annealed at 650°C for 48h. We haveperformed the measurement of X-Ray diffraction, and Infra Red spectroscopy. The chemical durability wasevaluated by weight losses of glass samples after immersion in hot distilled water (90°C) for 30days. Weight loss measurements showed a good chemical durability unlike borosilicate glass.