GLASS-WATER INTERACTIONS

The interactions between glass and water are many-sided and the results of such interactions depend on many parameters. In general the durability of glass in water is very high. However, this impression usually does not show that complicated interactions between glass and water occur yielding a remarkable change of the structure and microstructure of the glass surfaces. These phenomena shall be discussed in detail. These interactions are influenced by the compounds dissolved in the water. This must be taken into consideration especially when judging the long-term behavior of glass in a limited aqueous volume. This problem is important for some practical cases. It was found that the corrosion of glass continues even after the dissolved components have reached their saturation, however, with a lower rate. Two practical examples shall be discussed, the behavior of HLW-containing glass in a stock and the behavior of glass fibers in human tissues.