EFFECT OF COMPOSITION ON THE PENETRATION OF INERT-GASES ADSORBED ONTOSILICATE GLASS SURFACES

Molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations were used to study the ad sorption of inert gases (N-2, Ar, Ne) onto glass surfaces. There were four types of surfaces used: silica, sodium trisilicate, sodium disili cate, and sodium aluminosilicate. Unlike the results seen previously i n the deposition of metals onto these surfaces, it was found that the inert gas adsorbates had little or no effect on the substrate structur e during the adsorption However the structure of the glasses dramatica lly altered the adsorption behavior from point to point along the surf ace for all of the adsorbates. Nitrogen and argon were found to be una ble to penetrate the glass surfaces. Individual neon atoms were able t o penetrate all of the surfaces except for the sodium aluminosilicate. The reasons for the difference in adsorption behavior are discussed i n terms of the compositional effects on the structure of the glasses.