REACTION OF HYDROGEN WITH SODA LIME SILICATE-GLASSES CONTAINING COPPER

The reaction of hydrogen with soda lime silicate glasses containing co pper has been studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission el ectron microscopy, secondary ions mass spectrometry and x-ray spectros copy. This reaction induces a well developed periodic precipitation of metallic copper particles resulting from om the interdiffusion of hyd rogen and monovalent copper ions. The particles are concentrated in pl anes parallel to the surface of the sample and their size increases wi th the penetration depth. The reduction of copper is accompanied by a modification of the glass composition resulting from the diffusion of Cu+, electronic transfer between Cu+ and Cu2+ and diffusion of Na+.