Volatilisation from alkaline earth fluorophosphoaluminate glasses when heated above 550 deg C hinders chemical analysis. Solution of this type of glass cannot, therefore, be effected using traditional fluxes. Furthermore, the amount of oxygen in the vitrifiable mass is insufficient to ensure stoichiometric conversion of all elements present into their oxide forms. Thus, the analygical results must be expressed in terms of the elements. The use of solution with mineral acids is also ruled out because of the release of hydrofluoric acid in the process. The work reported here covers the development of a method for the analysis of the glasses in these systems produced from high purity reagents. Specimens were melted, ground and pelletised for analysis by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy thus avoiding the need for solution.
