Crystallization of a Cerium Phosphate Glass

Cerium phosphate glass containing 21 mol% cerium oxide and 79 mol% phosphorus oxide was prepared by melting a mixture of cerous oxalate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate under normal atmospheric conditions. A heat-treatment schedule was obtained from DTA of this glass. Specimens of heat-treated samples for TEM observations were prepared by chemical and mechanical polishing techniques to observe the progress of nucleation, phase separation, and crystallization of this glass. Phase separation in the glass foil was also followed by electron-beam heating in the microscope. The crystalline compounds separated were identified by using electron and X-ray diffraction techniques.