Spatial Distribution Of Heavy Metal Ions In Glass Forming Melts: Spectroscopic & Physical-Chemical Study

Spatial distribution of heavy metal ions (HMI) in inorganic glass forming melts was studied by measuring distribution coefficient between two unmixable melts: sodium-borate glass forming melt and non-glass forming molten sodium sulfate. Combining the data on glass host composition dependence of HMI distribution coefficient with the data of Rayleigh and Mandel'shtam-Brillouin scattering spectroscopy of glasses doped with HMI and undoped ones made it possible to evidence the segregation of HMI into alkali-enriched inhomogeneities of glass hosts and offer the approach to choosing compositions of glass host in which HMI segregation will be maximised.