Effect of ZnO on physical properties of Sb2O3-PbO-ZnO system

Vitreous systems based on antimony oxide Sb
₂
O
₃
have been investigated. The limits for glass formation are reported in the Sb
₂
O
₃
-PbO-ZnO ternary system. Thermal measurements implemented by differential scanning calorimetry show that Tg is above 300°C. As a general trend, Tg increases with zinc oxide content. The influence of the ZnO substitution on the optical and physical properties has been studied in the (80-x)Sb
₂
O
₃
-20PbO-xZnO system: Vickers micro-hardness, Young's modulus increase as zinc oxide concentration increases. An inverse dependence is observed for density. U.V. transmission stabilized around 75% and extended IR transmission is obtained. This behavior is discussed in relation to structural hypothesis.