Synthesis of lead-borate glasses using high energy ball milling (attritor)

High energy ball milling (attritor) was performed to synthesize amorphous PbO-25 mol%B2O3 at room temperature. The milled samples were subsequently melted with a less cost-effective way in contrast to other conversional methods. The milled samples were examined by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate their amorphization. The absorption of infrared radiation increases with milling time due to change in the dipole moment of the molecule while the crystallinity decreases. As a result of mechanical deformation higher defect concentration generated in the powder and thus aiding in amorphization. After convenient thermal treatments at 600 °C for 2 h, brittle lead oxide borate single phase was formed with 270.7 nm crystallite size.