A low cost synthesis process for vitreous NaAlSi3O8 using sodium zeolite

Abstract A process for making NaAlSi3O8 glass using sodium zeolite and amorphous silica as the starting materials is described. Provided that traces of crystalline silica can be tolerated in the final product, a low temperature of 1100 °C is sufficient to form the glass from the starting materials, whereas a pure amorphous material can be obtained at 1300 °C, which temperature is low when compared to the very high temperatures employed during the preparation of the glass using conventional melting process. The procedure is expected to be suitable for forming a thin layer of NaAlSi3O8 glass coexisting with Al2O3 and SiO2 on appropriate solid electrolyte materials for establishing a sodium reference electrode capable of generating low sodium activities in a galvanic cell.