Degradation Of Commercial Window Glass

Corrosion of commercial soda-lime-silica window glass specimens in the presence of water has been investigated. The aims are: (i) to elucidate the degradation mechanism involved when glass sheets are stored in blocks in humid environment, and; (ii) the time required to reach the stage when individual sheets could not be separated from each other. Results of experimental work confirm the generally accepted theory that dealkalisation of the glass surface precedes the breakdown of the silica structure.