Structural and thermal characterization of antimony-phosphate glass

Abstract

A new ternary glass systems of composition xSb2O3-(75-x) P2O5-25MgO, where x = 30, 40, 50 mol%; has been prepared via melt-quenching method. Synthesized glasses are characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDX, and TG/DTA measurements. The influence of varying Sb2O3 concentrations on their thermal properties and crystal structure is evaluated. The XRD patterns confirmed the amorphous nature of samples. SEM images demonstrated interesting phase formation with ribbons-like texture. Three crystalline phases were observed in this glass series which are antimony phosphate, antimony orthophosphate and cervantite. EDX spectra detected the approximate percentage of the raw elemental traces. Thermal analysis of these glasses revealed their high-molecular polymer character for Sb2O3 content at 50 mol%. Three different glass transition temperatures are achieved with three different composition each, which are (276, 381, 422 °C) at x=30 mol%, (276, 381, 470 °C) at x=40 mol% and (276, 381, 443 °C) at x=50 mol%. Furthermore, the solidus and liquidus temperature are found to decrease with increasing Sb2O3. This observation may open up new research avenues for antimony based ternary glasses.