Effect of rare earths on viscosity and thermal expansion of soda-lime-silicate glass

Viscosity of soda-lime-silicate glass doped with rare earth oxides (Pr6O11, Eu2O3, Yb2O3) was investigated by the rotating crucible viscometer, the melting temperature and activation energy for viscous flow of the studied melt were derived on the basis of the Arrhenius Equation, the coefficient of thermal expansion, glass transition temperature and dilatometric softening temperature were also determined with dilatometry, in order to reveal the effects of rare earth elements on the behavior of soda-lime-silicate glass. The results showed that introduction of rare earth oxides decreased the viscosity of soda-lime-silicate glass and melting temperature of corresponding melt, increased coefficient of thermal expansion of soda-lime-silicate glass. The glass transition temperature, dilatometric softening temperature, and melting temperature of soda-lime-silicate glass doped with rare earth oxides increased with increasing cationic field strength of corresponding rare earth ions.