Vol. 33, Issue 1, pp. 155-160

Abstract

Surface colouring of glass through an exchange of sodium for silver ions has been studied. The influence of the main parameters of thermal treatment on the spectral properties of glass has been observed. The following techniques were applied: UV-VIS spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy disperse X-ray analysis (EDX) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Surface distribution as well as the chemical state of silver ions at different stages of thermal treatment has been investigated. The influence of the reduction atmosphere and ionizing radiation on glass colour and the chemical state of silver has also been studied. New information on glass colouring due to silver diffusion in one of the oldest colouring techniques has been obtained. It has been found that silver is present mainly in the form of AgO and Ag₂O. In reduction conditions silver forms metallic particles with the mean size of 0.7 mm. Great chemical changes in the near surface region have been observed.