On the origin of the mixed alkali effect on indentation in silicate glasses

• The mixed alkali effect on indentation in aluminosilicate glasses is observed.
• This effect occurs also to Tg, fragility, densified volume and plastic flow.
• The hardness maximum relates to a minimum in the resistance to plastic flow.
• This maximum is also associated with structural compactness around alkali ions.

The compositional scaling of Vickers hardness (Hv) in mixed alkali oxide glasses manifests itself as a positive deviation from linearity as a function of the network modifier/modifier ratio, with a maximum deviation at the ratio of 1:1. In this work, we investigate the link between the indentation deformation processes (elastic deformation, plastic deformation, and densification) and Hv in two mixed sodium–potassium silicate glass series. We show that the mixed alkali effect in Hv originates from the nonlinear scaling of the resistance to plastic deformation. We thus confirm a direct relation between the resistance to plastic flow and Hv in mixed modifier glasses. Furthermore, we find that the mixed alkali effect also manifests itself as a positive deviation from linearity in the compositional scaling of density for glasses with high alumina content. This trend could be linked to a compaction of the network when two types of alkali ions co-exist.