Effect of composition on the corrosion behavior of 24 statistically-designed alkali-borosilicate waste glasses

The extent of glass dissolution is dependent on time, temperature, solution chemistry, and the glass composition, among other factors. To obtain an understanding of the relative behavior of different glasses, we have designed and made a matrix of 24 statistically-designed glasses, where seven glass components (SiO2, B2O3, Al2O3, CaO, Na2O, SnO2, and ZrO2) and all remaining components ("others") were varied independently. The glasses were subjected to static dissolution tests in deionized water at 40C and 90C for a duration of two years to isolate the impact of the individual components on the relative chemical durability of the glasses. Here, we discuss the observed behaviors of glass dissolution such as extent of alteration, relative release of various species from the glass, and resulting solution pH. The observed effects appear to be largely driven by the amount of B2O3, CaO, and Na2O in the studied glasses.