Structural heterogeneity of SiO2–Na2O–Al2O3 glass

Abstract

It is shown that the phase heterogeneity of SiO₂–Na₂O–Al₂O₃ glass has a liquation and crystallization nature, the balance between which is determined by the conditions of their synthesis. An increase in the aluminum oxide content decreases the number of liquation and crystallization sites, and also the linear sizes of the crystalline formations without eliminating the phase separation due to the liquation. The area of metastable immiscibility in the SiO₂–Na₂O–Al₂O₃ system, which is determined by scanning electron microscopy, is probably wider than the area detected by the optical methods.