Preparation,structure and properties of silicate-phosphate glasses obtained by means of sol-gel method

Gels, densified amorphous materials and thin layers in SiO₂-P₂O₅, SiO₂-P₂O₅-Al₂O₃ and SiO₂-P₂O₅-Na₂O systems were obtained from alcohol solutions. Detailed DTA, XRD and FTIR investigations were carried out for dried gels and heat-treated samples. It has been found, among others, that the addition of aluminium to the silicate-phosphate glasses eliminates the doubly bonded oxygen (P=O) and leads to the formation of a continuous framework connected with [SiO₄], [PO₄] and [AlO₄] tetrahedra.There were measured the chemical and electrical properties of glasses covered with silicatephosphate gel layers. It has been found that the chemical resistance of the covered glasses is higher than that of the basic, sodium-calcium-silicate glass. Moreover, the silicate-phosphate layers modify the surface electrical conduction of the basic glasses. The layers of systems SiO₂-P₂O₅ and SiO₂-P₂O₅-Al₂O₃ show the electrical conduction considerable higher than the basic glass. The layers containing sodium, depending on its concentration, behave similarly to the basic glass or show lower electrical conductivity.