An Insight into the Correlation between Chemical Composition Changes of Aluminum-Iron-Polyphosphate Glasses and Thermal Properties

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of the gradual substitution of Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> by Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> on the thermal properties of polyphosphate glasses. The conducted considerations based on differential scanni...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pawel Goj, Aleksandra Wajda, Agata Stoch, Ireneusz Krakowiak, Pawel Stoch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/2065
Description
Summary:The present study aimed to investigate the influence of the gradual substitution of Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> by Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> on the thermal properties of polyphosphate glasses. The conducted considerations based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and heating microscopy thermal analysis provided much essential information about the correlation between glass chemical composition and its characteristic parameters, such as transformation temperature, specific heat, crystallization temperature, crystallization enthalpy, the activation energy of crystal growth, melting temperature, and Angell glass thermal stability. The obtained estimation of viscosity changes as a function of temperature could be very helpful for researchers to correctly plan the vitrification process and thus radioactive waste immobilization. A precise analysis of DSC curves and X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the possibility of crystallization process design in order to create materials with different levels of crystallinity and phase composition. The drawn conclusions allow choosing the glass with the optimal concentration of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, which ensures the relatively low melting temperature, viscosity, and glass crystallization ability, with application potential in nuclear waste immobilization.
ISSN:1996-1944