Structural and vibrational characterization of medieval like glass samples

Within the framework of a project aimed to develop protective coatings for antique glass windows, three glass varieties of medieval-like composition were prepared using recipes deduced from archaeometric studies and different amounts of potassium for fluxing (15–20–25 K2O wt.%). Batches were melted in mullite crucibles using an electric furnace at 1350 °C, the glass was fast cooled in air and annealed at temperatures 20 °C higher than the sample glass transition temperatures (726, 702 and 683 °C for V1, V2 and V3, respectively). The chemical composition of the glass was determined by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and the glass transition temperature was checked by differential thermal analysis (DTA). X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) data and vibrational spectroscopic experiments (FT-IR and Raman) revealed a direct dependence of glass de-polymerization on potassium content. In particular, the Raman data were interpreted on the basis of SiO4 structural units Qn and the polymerization index Ip.

► Three medieval-like glasses containing 15–20–25 K2O wt.% were produced and characterized. ► Structural information were deduced by Raman spectra using the Qn model: NBO increase with K2O. ► The polymerization index resulted nearly insensitive to the potassium content ► The structural study will constitute the basis to understand the glasses deterioration processes.