Contribution to the kinetics of glass formation from solutions

The different reaction steps during the formation of solid materials from metal alkoxides were investigated by IR and DSC methods. The kinetics of hydrolysis of the different components in the system Na₂O/B₂O₃/SiO₂ show, that the hydrolysis of Si(OR)₄ in alcoholic solution is the slowest reaction and may determine the way of cross-linking. The use of alcohol as a solvent leads to incomplete reactions and this, as a consequence, may disturb the process of glass formation. Concerning the glass transition, no difference in transition temperature between gel glasses and conventionally melted glasses could be observed.