Effect Of Soil Ph On The Degradation Of Silicate Glasses

This paper reports the research on the physical-chemical response of silicate glasses subjected to the action of three natural soil types: acidic, neutral, and basic. The main goal of the study was to characterise the corrosion mechanisms acting upon glasses formulated with chemical compositions that are commonly found in historical glasses through an accelerated ageing test that replicates natural burial. Resulting data showed a distinct and recognizable response of each glass type, with pH as the key varialbe for glass corrosion. Results can be of great significance to historical glass studies, especially in choosing suitable conservation strategies for archeological findings.