Element Distribution Changes on the Surface of New and Aged Soda-Lime Glass: New Insights from Combined Sims and Xps Analyses

Non-destructive 3D exploration of silicate glass corrosion: a combined multiscale approach from the macro to the nanoscale

“…Stage 1: formation of the hydrated layer. The primary mechanism identified for initiating the degradation of glass, as determined in existing studies, is the reaction between the pristine glass network and water from the environment, either under saturated 9,31,32 (relative humidity RH 4 100%) or unsaturated [33][34][35] (RH o 100%) humidity conditions. Two ratelimiting mechanisms for the formation of the alteration layer are currently discussed in the literature.…”

“…These specimens are highly valuable both from the perspective of archaeology and material science, as they provide direct evidence of the structure of the alteration patina that has remarkably endured over extremely long periods of time. However, characterising these complex and heterogeneous samples in a non-invasive manner, across large areas, and with sufficient contrast and spatial resolution to visualise their structural and physicochemical heterogeneity 14 remains challenging.…”

“…In the literature, studies on glass alteration from various fields have shown that constructive defects may develop on a glass surface as a silica-rich gel layer 8,9 or in a multi-layered lamellar structure. [10][11][12][13][14] This lamellar structure is explained as the trace left behind by the advancing alteration front, propagating from the surface towards the inner bulk areas of unaltered glass. 15,16 Experiments aimed at reproducing the lamellar multi-layer structure of altered glass 15,17 have provided significant evidence for this model, especially in nuclear waste glass studies.…”