Structure of Na2O·MO·SiO2·CaF2 (M=Mg,Ca) oxyfluoride glasses

(9−x)CaO·xMgO·15Na₂O·60SiO₂·16CaF₂(x=0, 2, 4, 6, and 9) oxyfluoride glasses were prepared. Utilizing the Raman scattering technique together with ²⁹Si and ¹⁹F MAS NMR, the effect of alkaline metal oxides on the Q species of glass was characterized. Raman results show that as magnesia is added at the expense of calcium oxide, the disproportional reaction Q³→Q⁴+Q² (Qⁿ is a SiO₄ tetrahedron with n bridging oxygens) prompted due to the high ionic field strength of magnesia, magnesium oxide entered into the silicate network as tetrahedral MgO₄, and removed other modifying ions for charge compensation. This reaction was confirmed by ²⁹Si MAS NMR. ¹⁹F MAS NMR results show that fluorine exists in the form of mixed calcium sodium fluoride species in all glasses and no Si–F bonds were formed. As CaO is gradually replaced by MgO (x=6, 9), a proportion of the magnesium ions combines with fluorine to form the MgF⁺ species. Meanwhile, some part of Na⁺ ions complex F⁻ in the form of F–Na(6).