Topography of iron-phosphate glasses doped with niobium and titanium tested by confocal microscope

The topography of phosphate-iron glasses containing niobium and titanium were investigated with the use of confocal miscroscope. Glass samples of the composition of 35P2O5-30Fe2O3-35Nb2O5, 35P2O5-30Fe2O3-27.5Nb2O5-7.5TiO2 and 35P2O5-30Fe2O3-20Nb2O5-15TiO2  (in %mol) were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. Appropriate amounts of reagents ((NH4)2HPO4 (≥99.9%, POCH), Fe2O3 (≥99.9%, POCH), Nb2O5 (≥99.9%, PLUKA AG) and TiO2 (≥99.9%, anatase and rutile mixed, PROLABO)) were thoroughly mixed in an agate mortar and put on electric stove in temperature of 573K in order to carry out the decomposition process of (NH4)2HPO4. Next powders were melted in porcelain crucibles at 1573 K for 1-2 h. The melts were poured on preheated (to 573 K) brass plate and pressed by another plate to obtain flat circular samples (dimensions: 1-2 mm thick, 20-30 mm in diameter). The obtained pellets were annealed at 673 K for 1 h and cooled with furnace. The topography of the surface of the samples was investigated with Confocal Microscope Olympus OLS 4000 Lext equipped with a CCD camera.
Detailed information can be found in: doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2014.12.488