The System CaO-Al2O3-H2O

Phase equilibria have been determined in the system CaO-Al₂O₃-H₂O in the temperature range 100° to 1000°C. under water pressures of up to 3000 atmospheres. Only three hydrated phases are formed stably in the system: Ca(OH)₂, 3CaO·Al₂O₃·6H₂O, and 4CaO·3Al₂O₃-3H₂O. Pressure-temperature curves delineating the equilibrium decomposition of each of these phases have been determined, and some ther-mochemical data have been deduced therefrom. It has been established that both the compounds CaO·Al₂O₃ and 3CaO·Al₂O₃ have a minimum temperature of stability which is above 1000°C. The relevance of the new data to some aspects of cement chemistry is discussed.     

Some Properties of the System Na2O-NaF-B2O2-H2O

It was first shown that the enamel slips which have the best suspnding characteristics contain equal amounts of Na₂O and B₂O₃ and at least a moderate amount of NaF. The solubilities of mixtures of Na₂O, NaF, and B₂O₃ were then investigated. The pH of these solutions and the primary crystalline phases separating on evaporation also were determined. The solubility data obtained at room temperature were summarized. When the solutions were evaporated, NaF was the first crystalline phase to separate from a large proportion of the mixtures investigated. It was concluded that the desirable handling characteristics of enamels whose mill liquors contain the proper proportion of Na₂O, NaF, and B₂O₃ are not due to the formation of complex salts but to the following combination of properties: (1) the presence of salts with a moderate solubility which changes very slightly with temperature, (2) a moderate pH of about 10 in a probably well-buffered solution, (3) a relatively stable crystalline material, NaF, as a primary phase, and (4) a secondary phase which crystallizes slowly with relatively little shrinkage.     

The System CaO-Al2O3-P2O5-H2O at 200°C

The phase relations were established experimentally for the system CaO-Al₂O₃-P₂O₅-H₂O at 200°C and 1710 kPa. The quaternary compound, crandallite, CaAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₅· H₂O, was found to be stable. Compatibility joins in the system were determined. The phase relations are presented on the isothermal-isobaric 90 wt% water plane and by projecting the primary fields of the liquidus surface onto the same plane.     

The System Bi2O,—B2O3

The phase diagram for the system Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃ has been determined experimentally. The melting point of Bi₂O₃ has been redetermined as 825° C with an estimated overall uncertainty of about ±3°C, and the molal heat of fusion of Bi₂O₃, calculated from the slope of the liquidus curve, is 2050 cal per mole. The system contains a body-centered cubic phase of approximate composition 12Bi₂O₃·B₂O₃, which melts incongruently at 632°C. Four congruently melting compounds exist in the system: 2Bi₂O₃· B₂O₃·5B₂O₃, Bi₂O₃·3B₂O₃, and Bi₂O₃·4B₂O₃, with melting points, respectively, of 675°, 722°, 708°, and 715°C. The Bi₂O₃·4B₂O₃ compound exhibits a sluggish transformation at 696°C. Compositions containing up to 97.5 wt% (85 mole %) Bi₂O₃ can be partly or totally quenched to glass. Indices of the quenched glasses are greater than 1.74. A region of liquid immiscibility extends at 709°C from almost pure B₂O₃ to 19.0 mole % Bi₂O₃. The extent of immiscibility theoretically calculated agrees with the experimentally determined value when 1.20 A is used for the ionic radius of Bi³⁺.     

Raman Spectroscopy of Heat-Treated B2O3-SiO2 Glasses

Raman spectra were measured on B₂O₃-SiO₂ glasses heat-treated at different temperatures and for different periods of time. It was found that the intensity ratio of the 810- and 475-cm⁻¹ bands depended on the thermal history and composition of glass. The intensity vs heat-treatment temperature curve exhibited a maximum in the glass-transition temperature range. High-temperature Raman spectra were measured on 0.5B₂O₃-0.5SiO₂ glass, both with increasing and decreasing temperature, between room temperature and 600°C. Above 300°C with increasing temperature, the intensity of the 810-cm⁻¹ band decreased, whereas the intensity of the 475-cm⁻¹ band increased. The changes reversed with decreasing temperature. The reversible change of the intensity of the two bands was interpreted as a reversible formation and decomposition of boroxy rings with temperature. The reaction becomes very sluggish below the glass transition so that the intensity ratio stayed constant below 300°C.     

Studies in Lithium Oxide Systems: I, Li2O B2O3–B2O3

Phase relationships in the system Li₂O, B₂O₃-B₂O₃ were studied by the quenching method using twenty compositions. The crystalline phases encountered were (a) Li₂O, B₂O₃, which melts congruently at 849°± 2°C., (b) Li₂O.-2B₂O₃, which melts congruently at 917°± 2°C., (c) a new compound, 2Li₂O-5B₂O₃, which melts incongruently at 856°± 2°C. and dissociates below 696°± 4°C., (d) Li₂O.3B₂O₃, which melts incongruently at 834°± 4°C. and dissociates below 595°± 20°C., and (e) probably Li₂O.4B₂O₃, which melts incongruently at 635°± 10°C. Reactions were sluggish at temperatures near 600°C., resulting in metastable relations. Hence phase equilibrium data relating to the lower stability limit of Li₂O.3B₂O₃ and to the upper stability limit of Li₂O.4B₂O₃ are considered to be tentative. Properties of the glasses and crystalline phases were studied. The refractive index of the glasses increased with the addition of Li₂O up to 22%, but further additions up to 40% had no substantial effect. Glasses containing less than 30% Li₂O were water soluble. Limited data on the density and thermal expansion of the glasses are presented. Li₂OB₂O₃ was euhedral, lath-shaped, length-fast, biaxial negative (2V = 27°), with n_α= 1.540, n_β= 1.612, n_γ= 1.616. Li₂O.2B₂O₃ was uniaxial negative, with n_e= 1.560, n_w= 1.605. Li₂O.3B₂O₃ was biaxial negative (2V = 75° to 80°), with n_α= 1.576, n_β= 1.602, n_γ= 1.605. X-ray powder diffraction data for the five crystalline compounds are presented. Thermal expansion data for Li₂O-B₂O₃ and Li₂O.2B₂O₃ and limited data on the fluorescent properties of the compounds are given. X-ray diffraction data are also presented for Li₂O.B₂O₃.4H₂O and Li₂O.-5B₂O₃. 10H₂O. Li₂O B₂O₃ was obtained by heating the first hydrate at 450° to 680° C. X-ray diffraction showed Li₂O.4B₂O₃ and Li₂O-3B₂O₃ to be the crystalline products obtained during heating the decahydrate at 500°C. and 600°C., respectively.     

Vibrational Spectra of Vitreous B2O3.xH2O

The infrared absorption spectra of boron oxide glasses of low and high water content have been obtained in the 400- to 4000-cm.⁻¹ region using thin films or fine powders dispersed in a liquid. A structural interpretation of the glass spectra has been made with the aid of the spectra of the closely related materials boric acid, orthorhombic metaboric acid, and partly deuterated boron oxide glass of high water content. It has been shown that the glass spectra are consistent with a random-network structure in which each boron is triangularly coordinated by three oxygens and that the presence of water leads to weak hydrogen bonding between oxygen atoms. No evidence for a substantial amount of tetrahedral coordination of boron by oxygen has been found in glasses of either low or high water content.     

Studies in the System Li2O–Al2O3–Fe2O3-H2O

Subsolidus equilibrium relations in a portion of the system Li2O-Fe₂O₃-Al₂O3 in the temperature range 500° to 1400°C. have been determined near po₂ = 0.21. Of particular interest in this system is the LiFe₅O₈-LiAl₅O₈ join, which shows complete solid solution above 1180°C. Below this temperature the solid solution exsolves into two spinel phases. At 600°C. approximately 15 mole % of each compound is soluble in the other. The high-temperature solid solution and the low-temperature exsolution dome extend into the ternary system from the 1:5 join. There is no appreciable crystalline solubility of LiFeO₂ or of α-Fe₂O₃ in LiFe₅O₈. An attempt to confirm HFe₅O₈ as the correct formulation of the magnetic ferric oxide "γ-Fe₂O₃" was inconclusive, but in the absence of positive evidence, the retention of γ-Fe₂O₃ is recommended. All the metallic oxides of the Group IV elements increase the temperature of the monotropic conversion of -γ-Fe₂O₃ to α-Fe₂O₃. Silica and thoria have a greater effect on this conversion than does titania or zirconia.     

Phase Relations in the System Li2O.B2O3-B2O3-NiO

Phase equilibria were determined by standard quench methods in binary systems NIO-B₂O₃, the binary join Li₂O.B₂O₃-NiO, and three other sections through the Li₂O.B₂O₃-B₂O₃-NiO system. The only new compound observed was 2NiO.B₂O₃, which is stable from 1303° to 1480°C.     

Preparation and Characterization of High-Density PbO–Bi2O3–B2O3 Glasses

Transparent glasses with densities greater than 8 g/mL, which are resistant to nuclear radiation damage and can serve as a host for rare-earth scintillators, are being developed. Glasses in the PbO–Bi₂O₃ system are known to have some of the highest densities yet reported. In this study, a thorough reexamination of these glasses has been performed to examine their optical-transmission windows and densities. The observed glass-forming range found in this work agrees well with that reported in the literature. A minimum of ≅ 10 mol% B₂O₃ was required in some cases to vitrify the compositions. Glasses were examined in which the PbO:Bi₂O₃ ratios ranged from 10:90 to 90:10 with a maximum total B₂O₃ content of ≅50 mol%. Glasses with higher B₂O₃ contents were not examined because of the rapidly decreasing density with increasing B₂O₃ content. The densities of the glasses ranged from a low of 6.0 g/mL to a high of 8.1 g/mL. The highest densities were observed for glasses with the greatest PbO content. Ultraviolet/visible and infrared spectra were recorded for these glasses. The transmission window lies between ≅430 and 3850 nm. A systematic increase in the cutoff wavelength was found to occur with an increase in the density. Water-absorption peaks were found in the infrared spectra at ≅3000 nm.     

Crystalline Phases and YAG Laser-Induced Crystallization in Sm2O3–Bi2O3–B2O3 Glasses

The glass formation region, crystalline phases, second harmonic (SH) generation, and Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser-induced crystallization in the Sm₂O₃–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ system were clarified. The crystalline phases of Bi₄B₂O₉, Bi₃B₅O₁₂, BiBO₃, Sm _x Bi_{1− x} BO₃, and SmB₃O₆ were formed through the usual crystallization in an electric furnace. The crystallized glasses consisting of BiBO₃ and Sm _x Bi_{1− x} BO₃ showed SH generations. The formation of the nonlinear optical BiB₃O₆ phase was not confirmed. The formation (writing) region of crystal lines consisting of Sm _x Bi_{1− x} BO₃ by YAG laser irradiation was determined, in which Sm₂O₃ contents were∼10 mol%. The present study demonstrates that Sm₂O₃–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ glasses are promising materials for optical functional applications.     

Thermodynamics of Nitrogen in B2O3, B2O3─SiO2, and B2O3─CaO Systems

The BN solubilities for B₂O₃, B₂O₃─SiO₂, and B₂O₃─CaO systems have been measured mainly at 1823 K using a graphite crucible. The capability of the systems for nitrogen dissolution is compared with that of silicate systems in terms of nitride capacity. The dependence of nitrogen solubility in molten CaO containing 15 mol% of B₂O₃ on oxygen and nitrogen partial pressures is also investigated. It has been found that there are two mechanisms for nitrogen dissolution, namely as chemically bonded nitrogen and as physically dissolved nitrogen gas.     

Depolymerization of GeO2 and B2O3-GeO2 Network Glasses by Sb2O3

Binary Sb₂O₃-GeO₂ glasses containing 45 mol% Sb₂O₃ and ternary Sb₂O₃-B₂O₃-GeO₂ glasses containing 50 mol% GeO₂ were prepared. Their densities (volumes), refractive indices, and infrared spectra were determined, and their colors and high-temperature viscosities were estimated visually. Small amounts of Sb₂O₃ (∼10 mol%) appear to perturb neither the Ge-O-Ge network nor those B-O-Ge networks with small B/Ge ratios (∼0.2). The B-O-Ge networks with larger B/Ge ratios (∼1.0) depolymerize in the presence of even less Sb₂O₃. Amounts of Sb₂O₃ >10 mol% appear to depolymerize the Ge-O-Ge and Ge-O-B networks progressively, possibly with the formation of chains. A structurally sensitive ir isofrequency contour technique developed for ternary glass systems was applied successfully to these Sb₂O₃-B₂O₃-GeO₂ glasses. These contours can thus readily detect significant network depolymerization in the absence of the usual network modifiers.     

The Formation of Magnesium Oxychloride Phases in the Systems MgO-MgCl2-H2O and NaOH-MgCl2-H2O

The reactions leading to the formation of crystalline Mg₃(OH)₅Cl·4H₂O (phase 5), Mg₂(OH)₃,Cl·4H₂O (phase 3), and Mg(OH)₂ are compared for the systems MgO-MgCl₂-H₂O and NaOH-MgCl₂-H₂O. The crystalline phases were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The concentration of the total magnesium and chloride in the solution and the pH of the solution determine the reaction product(s) in both systems. The influence of MgO reactivity and the molar ratio of reactants on the formation and stability of reaction products is discussed and the mechanism of the formation of phases 3 and 5 is explained. In the system MgO-MgCl₂-H₂O, MgO serves only to increase the concentration of total magnesium and the pH of the MgCl₂ solution.     

Raman Spectra of Potassium Borogermanate Glasses with High B2O3 Contents

Raman spectra were measured and analyzed for K₂O-B₂O₃-CeO₂ glasses containing 85% and 65% B₂O₃. Structural changes, e.g. in the coordination of boron (3 to 4) and germanium (4 to 6), were noted from the spectra when composition was varied.     

Field-Assisted Densification of Superhard B6O Materials with Y2O3/Al2O3 Addition

B₆O is a possible candidate of superhard materials with a hardness of 45 GPa measured on single crystals. Up to now, densification of these materials was only possible at high pressure. However, recently it was found that Al₂O₃ can be utilized as an effective sintering additive, similar to the addition of Y₂O₃/Al₂O₃ that was used in this work. The densification behavior of the material as a function of applied pressure, its microstructure evolution, and the resulting mechanical properties were investigated. A strong dependence of the densification with increasing pressure was found. The material revealed characteristic triple junctions filled with amorphous residue composed of B₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and Y₂O₃, while no amorphous grain-boundary films were observed along internal interfaces. Mechanical testing revealed on average a hardness of 33 GPa, a fracture toughness of 4 MPa·m^1/2, and a strength value of 520 MPa.     

Interfacial Reaction of BaTiO3 Ceramics with PbO–B2O3 Glasses

Interfacial reactions of pure, lead-, and zirconium-substituted BaTiO₃ ceramics with PbOB₂O₃ glasses were studied, with an emphasis on the effect of glass composition. Microstructures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and electron-probe microanalysis aided with X-ray diffractometry of powder mixtures in the system BaTiO₃PbOB₂O₃ heated at 850°C. The interfacial microstructures were divided into two types, depending on the glass composition. The first type was characterized by precipitates of TiO₂ dispersed in the glass matrix. Extended heating or limited glass volume resulted in the formation of a continuous layer of BaTi(BO₃)₂. The second type of microstructure was characterized by a lead-rich perovskite phase, which developed at the glass/ceramic interfacial region. Growth kinetics for this phase denied the diffusion-controlled mechanism. The substitution of lead in BaTiO₃ enhanced the penetration of glass into the ceramics along the grain boundaries and developed a coreshell structure.