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Title: Non-destructive characterization of corroded glass surfaces by spectroscopic ellipsometry

Journal Article · · Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry; Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  3. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Characterization of the alteration layers that form on glass surfaces during corrosion processes provides valuable information on both the mechanisms and rate of glass alteration. In recent years, state-of-the-art materials and surface characterization techniques have been employed to study various aspects of the alteration layers that result from corrosion. In most cases, these techniques are destructive and thus can only be employed at the end of the corrosion experiment. We show that the alteration layers can be investigated by non-destructive spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), which provides pertinent information on alteration layer thickness, morphology, and, through correlation of the index of refraction, porosity. SE measurements of silicate glass coupons altered in aqueous solutions of pH 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 at 90 °C for 7 days are compared to cross-sectional secondary electron microscopy images. In most cases, quantitative agreement of the alteration layer thickness is obtained. The fractional porosity calculated from the index of refraction is lower than the porosity calculated from elemental analysis of the aqueous solutions, indicating that the alteration layer has compacted during corrosion or the subsequent supercritical CO2 drying process. Our results confirm the utility of performing non-destructive SE measurements on corroded glass surfaces.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC0576RL01830; 23-3361
OSTI ID:
1413461
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1576629
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-126511; PII: S002230931730580X; TRN: US1800433
Journal Information:
Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Vol. 481, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3093
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 20 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Influence of young cement water on the corrosion of the International Simple Glass journal January 2019
Physical and optical properties of the International Simple Glass journal April 2019
Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of thickness and porosity of the alteration layer formed on international simple glass surface in aqueous corrosion conditions journal July 2018
Towards a unifying mechanistic model for silicate glass corrosion journal September 2018