Transparent oxynitride glasses: Synthesis, microstructure, optical transmittance and ballistic resistance

Abstract Oxynitride glasses with five different compositions were prepared by melting batches at 1600 °C for 2 h under N 2 atmosphere in a Si–Mo-heated resistance furnace. The amorphous nature of these samples was verified by an X-ray diffractometer with Cu/Kα radiation. UV/visible wavelength region light transmission spectra of samples showed that the transmittance of the obtained glasses (1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm thickness) can reach up to 80% in the visible region (above 400 nm). The Vickers indentations were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ballistic resistance represented by D rel value was assessed by physical and mechanical properties including density, hardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness. It was found that the D rel value of oxynitride glasses can reach up to 2.56 and is higher than that of sapphire, which is 2.4.