Effect of Bi2O3 on structure and wetting studies of Bi2O3-ZnO-B2O3 glasses

Glasses with different Bi₂O₃ contents (37-42 mol%) have been prepared by conventional melt quench technique. The IR and Raman studies indicate that these glasses are made up of BiO₆], BiO₃], BO₃] and BO₄] basic structural units. The vibrations of BiO₃] and BO₃] become stronger as the content of Bi₂O₃ increases, which makes glass structure loosened. Viscosity of the glasses was measured by using a Rheotronic III paralleled plate rheometry, which shows that the viscosity of glass samples decreased when the content of Bi₂O₃ increased at the same temperature (400-460 °C). The temperature range which suits for glasses sealing was calculated by using the approximation of Arrhenian behaviour. The wetting performance of Bi₂O₃-ZnO-B₂O₃ glasses was described by using high-temperature microscope, which also proves that the structure of investigated Bi₂O₃-ZnO-B₂O₃ glasses become loosened due to the increasing of the content of Bi₂O₃.