Potassium sulfate droplets and the origin of turbidity in alabaster glass

• A study of the criteria required to manufacture multi-component semi-transparent silicate glasses, so called “alabaster” glass, has found that the optical effect is caused by non-crystal¬line potassium sulfate droplets. The droplets were characterized by use of XRD, SEM/EDX and Raman spectroscopy. The size range of the particles is in the order of 5-50 micrometers. It was found that the droplets consisted of potassium sulfate, even if other sulfate compounds were added to the glass. The amount of sulfate compound added, the melting temperature of the furnace and the melting time have significant effect on the optical density of the glass. The optical density of the glass can be correlated to the calculated surface tension of the host glass, suggesting that phase separation of a sulfate enriched liquid phase is part of the mecha¬nism forming the droplets. By adding pigments several different colours can be obtained, but the alabaster effect is not achieved during reducing conditions, thus it seems not possible to produce colours originating from reduced pigments. Pigments tested were Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, Au, Mo/Se, Nd and Ti/Ce/Se.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Oorganisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Inorganic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

glass

alabaster

optical density

phase separation

sulphate droplets

Materials science

Teknisk materialvetenskap

Inorganic chemistry

Oorganisk kemi

Materials chemistry

Materialkemi

TECHNOLOGY

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