Glass-formation in the GeSe2–Sb2Te3–CdSe system

Abstract Chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) from the GeSe2–Sb2Te3–CdSe system were synthesized and the glass-forming region was determined by visual examination, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope analyses. The basic physicochemical parameters, such as: density (d), microhardness (HV) and the phase transformation temperatures (glass-transition Tg, crystallization Tcr and melting Tm) were measured. The Hruby's criterion (KG), compactness (C) and some thermomechanical characteristics, such as: volume (Vh) and formation energy (Eh) of microvoids in the glassy network, as well as the module of elasticity (E) were calculated. The density, microhardness and Tg for the investigated ChGs are within the limits of 4.34–5.24 g cm− 3, 791.8–1078.0 MPa and 509–598 K, respectively. The mean values of the total bond energy , coordination number , bond energy of the average cross-linking per atom Ēc and that of the “remaining matrix” Ērm were determined. The average heteropolar bond energy Ehb and the degree of “cross-linking per atom” P were also calculated.