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Abstract: A thulium (Tm 3+) doped oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing SrF2 nanocrystals has been presented. Transparent glass ceramic was obtained by heat treating the glass from the SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–SrF2 system at the first crystallization temperature. Cerammization of glass was studied by DTA/DSC, XRD and SEM methods. It has been found that nanocrystallization of SrF2 strongly depends on the ratio between the components and amount of SrF2. Moreover the rare earth dopant Tm3+ influenced on the thermal properties of glass. The formation of SrF2 nanocrystals in glass ceramic was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. X-ray diffraction analysis of the transparent glass ceramic revealed that the SrF2 nanocrystals are precipitated in the glass matrix. Analysis of the local atomic interactions in the structure of oxyfluoride glass has been used to explain the course of the crystallization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To support commercialization of the MgO-Al2O3-B2O-SiO2-based low-dielectric glass fibers, crystallization characteristics of the relevant glasses was investigated under various heat-treatment conditions. The study focused on the effects of iron on the related thermal properties and crystallization kinetics. Both air-cooled and nucleation-treated samples were characterized by using the differential thermal analysis/differential scanning calorimeter method between room temperature and 1200°C. A collected set of properties covers glass transition temperature ( Tg), maximum crystallization temperature ( Tp), specific heat (Δ C p), enthalpy of crystallization (Δ Hcryst), and thermal stability (Δ T= Tp- Tg). Using the Kinssiger method, the activation energy of crystallization was determined. Crystalline phases in the samples having various thermal histories were determined using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and/or in situ high-temperature XRD method. Selective scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis provided evidence that crystal density in the glass is affected by the iron concentration. Glass network structures, for air-cooled and heat-treated samples, were examined using a midinfrared spectroscopic method. Combining all of the results from our study, iron in glass is believed to function as a nucleation agent enhancing crystal population density in the melt without altering a primary phase field. By comparing the XRD data of the glasses in two forms (bulk versus powder), the following conclusions can be reached. The low-dielectric glass melt in commercial operation should be resistant to crystallization above 1100°C. Microscopic amorphous phase separation, possibly a borate-enriched phase separating from the silicate-enriched continuous phase can occur only if the melt is held at temperatures below 1100°C, that is, below the glass immiscibility temperature. The study concludes that neither crystallization nor amorphous phase separation will be expected for drawing fibers between 1200°C and 1300°C in a commercial operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of nanocrystallization process in oxyfluoride glasses Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2-LaF3-NaF doped with rare earth (RE) ions on their thermal and optical properties is studied. The thermal characteristics of oxyfluoride glasses (OG) with Tm3+, Yb3+ are presented. The effect of the glass crystallization on thermal stability of the glass and crystallizing phases formed upon heat treatment is investigated by DTA/DSC and XRD methods. It has been found that the effect of nanocrystallization of LaF3 and incorporation of RE elements in formed upon heat treatment nanocrystallites depends on the kind of rare earth elements and is determined by factors of crystallochemical nature and requires adequate proportions between the components forming glass structure. The ellipsometric investigations are performed by M2000 spectroscopic ellipsometer. These measurements allowed us to determine dispersion of refractive indices in the range 190-1700 nm and depolarization coefficients. The influence of nanocrystallization process on refractive indices is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the work was to characterize and synthesize tellurite glasses from the TeO2-WO3-PbO-La2O3 system. The effect of lanthanum oxide content on the tendency to the crystallization of glassy matrix was investigated. Differential thermal analysis DTA/DSC, XRD measurement were considered in terms of the lanthanum oxide influence. Presented work is a continuation of investigations of tellurite glasses with use of the Faraday effect method. The Faraday effect is a rotation of polarization of linearly polarized light in an isotropic transparent material under the magnetic field. It has been stated that the addition of lanthanum to tellurite glass from the TeO2- WO3-PbO system hinders the crystallization process of glass which is very important during fiber drawing. Tellurite glasses have physical and chemical properties that make this class of materials a potential candidate in different applications, such as electrochemical and optoelectronic devices. In the field of photonics these glasses may be used as precursors for infrared fibers or windows due to the possibility of changing their phonon energies and therefore the domain of wavelength transparency as a function of compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents new glass-ceramics as a material for up-conversion luminescence. Formation of the LaF3 nanocrystals have been obtained as a low phonon host for rare earth active ions in oxide glassy matrix. The thermal conditions of LaF3 nanocrystallization in the glass from the SiO2-Al2O3-Na2O-LaF3 system have been presented. Transmittance and luminescence properties as a function of heat treatment have been investigated. The effect of incoming of Er3+ in LaF3 crystals has been shown on the luminescence properties. AFM results have confirmed the growth of nano-scale crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]