Does Boron Fluoride (Bf3) Produce Opacification Of Glass

It is widely believed in the glass industry the boron containing glasses can be opaicified with fluorine-containing raw materials due to the compound boron-fluoride. It is shown that opacification cannot be attributable to BF3 and is produced only by the alkalis and alkali earths present in boron-containing glasses in the form of fluorides.