Glass formation in the Sb2O3–CdCl2–SrCl2 ternary system

Abstract Vitreous systems based on antimony oxide Sb 2 O 3 have been investigated. The limits for glass formation are reported in the Sb 2 O 3 –CdCl 2 –SrCl 2 ternary system, and in the Sb 2 O 3 –SrCl 2 –(0.5CdCl 2 + 0.5ZnCl 2 ) pseudo ternary system. Amorphous state is confirmed by XRD patterns. Thermal measurements implemented by differential scanning calorimetry show that Tg is above 300 °C. As a general trend, Tg increases with chloride content. These glasses have an extended transmission in the mid-infrared spectrum with a refractive index larger than 2. The influence of the CdCl 2 /Sb 2 O 3 substitution on the physical properties has been studied in the (90 − x)Sb 2 O 3 –xCdCl 2 –10SrCl 2 system: thermal expansion, Vickers microhardness, Young and bulk modulus decrease as cadmium concentration increases. An inverse dependence is observed for shear modulus. This behaviour is discussed in relation to structural hypothesis.