Structure and Chemical Durability of Ce-Doped Iron Borophosphate Glasses

The chemical durability of iron borophosphate (IBP) glasses with molar composition of 36Fe₂O₃-10B₂O₃-54P₂O₅ containing different contents of cerium oxide were measured by dissolution rate (DR) and product consistency test (PCT) method, the structure units and glass transition temperature (T_g) of prepared glasses were also characterized by the XRD, FTIR spectra and DTA. Monazite-typed cerium phosphate crystal was detected by XRD apparatus in the glass with molar composition of 15CeO₂-30₆Fe₂O₃-8.5B₂O_3-45.9P₂O₅, and the glass chemical durability was also improved for the crystallization. The results analyzed by FTIR spectra show that the main glass structure units are (P₂O₇)^4-， (PO₄)^3- groups and boronoxygen tetrahedron ［BO₄］, almost without easily hydrolytic (PO₃)^- groups. The structure units are changed from (PO₃)^- groups to (P₂O₇)^4- or (PO₄)^3- groups as the increase in cerium loading which also enhance the glass chemical durability.