The Chemistry Of Glass Surfaces

Chemical reactions determine the chemistry of glass surfaces especially those in aqueous solutions. The progress in this field is discussed considering particularly the formation and the properties of leached surfaces of silicate glasses in dilute solutions. Limited solution volume decreases the dissolution rate by the formation of protecting surface layers and by saturation effects, however, the dissolution does not stop but continues with a predictably low long-term value. The importance of this behaviour for some applications is shown by some examples.