ELECTRICAL CONDUCTION AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF VITREOUS SOLIDS IN K2O-SIO2 SYSTEM

Both the electrical conductivity and phase separation by replication electron microscopy of the vitreous K2O-SiO2 solids from 10-43.3 mole % K2O are investigated. Inflexions in the activation energy of conduction vs. composition are observed around 33, 20 and 11 mole % K2O. The activation energy of conduction is derived from the experimental electrical conductivities obtained in the temperature range, 70°-300°C for all compositions excepting 10-15 mole % K2O, for which the temperature range was 100°-300°C. The observed inflexions in the resistivity and its temperature dependence around 33 and 20 mole % K2O compositions seem to be related to the occurrence of phase separation in the potash-silica glasses of 15-43.3 mole % K2O. The inflexion around 11 mole % K2O is probably related to a large change in the structure of the silica network upto about this composition. © 1969.