Density and microhardness of As-Se glasses and glass fibers

The density and Vickers microhardness of bulk glasses and glass fibers in the As-Se system have been determined for up to 50% As. Arsenic selenide glasses were batched in an argon atmosphere using high purity arsenic and selenium to produce samples that contained between 5 and 50% As, the balance being Se. The density and hardness of both fibers and bulk glasses increase up to the stoichiometric As2Se3 composition, with the hardness exhibiting a maximum at this composition, in accordance with the average coordination number ([r]) approach. The microhardness of aged fibers of all compositions is found to be higher than the corresponding bulk glass, indicating different structures. Both the density and microhardness of AsSe4 are found to increase rapidly with time after drawing. Density and microhardness results are discussed in terms of quench induced stresses which result from the fiber drawing process, and stress relaxation in arsenic selenide glasses.