Mixed Alkali Effect In Glasses Containing MnO2

Glass systems of the composition xLi(2)O-(25-x)K2O-70(0.4ZnO+0.6P(2)O(5))+ 5MnO(2) (x = 4,8,12,16 and 20 mol %) have been prepared by melt quenching technique. The thermal and mechanical properties of the glasses have been evaluated as a function of mixed alkali content. Glass transition temperature and Vickers's hardness of the glasses show a pronounced deviation from linearity at 12 mol% Li2O. Theoretically estimated elastic moduli of the glasses show small positive deviations from linearity. MAE in these properties has been attributed to the localized changes in the glass network. The absorption spectra of Mn2+ ions in these glasses showed strong broad absorption band at 514 nm corresponding to the transition (6)A(1g) (S) -> T-4(1g)(G), characteristic of manganese ions in octahedral symmetry. The fundamental absorption edge in UV region is used to study the optical transitions and electronic band structure. From UV absorption edge, optical band gap energies have been evaluated. Band gap energies of the glasses have exhibited MAE and shows minimum value for 12 mol% Li2O glass.