Structural changes induced by Fe2O3 addition in strontium-borate glass matrix

Glasses of the xFe(2)O(3)center dot(100-x)[B2O3 center dot SrO] system, with 0 <= x <= 30 mol% were studied by X-ray diffraction, density, optical microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy measurements. The X-ray patterns for the prepared system show that vitreous phase is present only in the sample with x < 40 mol%. For x >= 40 mol% in the studied samples is evidenced crystalline phase of Fe2O3. SEM measurements for the sample with x = 40 mol% shows that there are formed Fe2O3 microcrystallites with 10-20 mu m dimension. FT-IR spectroscopy measurements shown that BO3 and BO4 are the main structural units of the glass system and the iron ions are located in the glass network.