Corrosion of Silicate Glasses: An Overview

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe corrosion of silicate glasses is described in terms of four stages of surface attack which result in six types of surface conditions depending upon the glass composition and various environmental and physical factors. Type I and II surfaces correspond to durable glasses which have a very high surface SiO2 content whereas Type IV and V surfaces are unstable. Type IIIA surfaces include bioactive glasses which chemically bond to bone and Type IIIB surfaces are characteristic of the alkali borosilicate nuclear waste glasses which form multiple layers of precipitated surface films.