Effect of Bi2O3 on structure and wetting studies of Bi2O3–ZnO–B2O3 glasses

Glasses with different Bi2O3 contents (37–42 mol%) have been prepared by conventional melt quench technique. The IR and Raman studies indicate that these glasses are made up of [BiO6], [BiO3], [BO3] and [BO4] basic structural units. The vibrations of [BiO3] and [BO3] become stronger as the content of Bi2O3 increases, which makes glass structure loosened. Viscosity of the glasses was measured by using a Rheotronic III paralleled plate rheometry, which shows that the viscosity of glass samples decreased when the content of Bi2O3 increased at the same temperature (400–460 °C). The temperature range which suits for glasses sealing was calculated by using the approximation of Arrhenian behaviour. The wetting performance of Bi2O3–ZnO–B2O3 glasses was described by using high-temperature microscope, which also proves that the structure of investigated Bi2O3–ZnO–B2O3 glasses become loosened due to the increasing of the content of Bi2O3.

► IR and Raman spectra are dominated by Bi and B vibrations.
► IR and Raman spectra, viscosity and high-temperature microscope all proved that glass structure loosening as Bi2O3 content increase.
► The network of the investigated glass is formed by [BiO3], [BO3] and [BO4].
► The vibrations of [BiO3] and [BO3] become stronger as the content of Bi2O3 increases, [BO4] on the contrary.