Bismuth and lead oxides codoped boron phosphate glasses for Faraday rotators

New magneto-optical vitreous materials were obtained by melting-quenching technique comprising wet route raw materials preparation. The glass has the following composition in oxide mol. % 10 Li2O, 9 Al2O3, 5 ZnO, (35; 20; 50) B2O3,,(35; 50; 20) P2O5, 3 Bi2O3, 3 PbO, phosphorus and boron oxide being the vitreous network formers. It was also prepared a similar reference glass composition but without Bi2O3 and PbO. Optical and structural characterization by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy of the bulk glasses showed a transmission over 90%, metaphosphate structure of glass together with Q(2) boron oxide units and P-O-B bonds. The mechanical parameters, hardness (H), Youngs modulus (E) and fracture toughness (KO of boron phosphate glasses, evaluated by micro- and nanoindentation techniques, demonstrated mostly higher values in comparison with those for alumino-phosphate glasses due to mixed borophosphate network. Thermal behavior was investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) putting in evidence the vitreous transition temperature which decreases with about 45 degrees C when Bi and Pb oxides were added and two crystallization effects. The diamagnetic character of a highly transparent Bi and Pb oxide co doped boron phosphate glass was confirmed by ellipsometry, and the glass presented high magneto-optical properties at the top of the commercial bulk products.