ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTIVITY OF SOME ALKALI SILICATE-GLASSES

Electrical conductivity and activation energy of some sodium-silicate glasses containing different substituted cations (Ca or Al) at differe nt temperatures, were studied with the view to throw some light on the mechanism of electrical conduction in relation to glass structure. Th e DC electrical conductivity for samples containing soda alone was hig her than samples containing substituted CaO or alumina. The conduction mechanism is attributed to the ability of charge carrier cations (alk ali or alkaline earth cations) to move freely or become more mobile. T he electrical conductivity of the studied glasses is correlated with t he change in chemical composition which affects the change in chemical composition and the internal structure and hence the ability or the f reedom of charge carriers to conduct electricity. Moreover, the increa se in the activation energy was attributed to the presence of anions w ith large radii which in turn decrease the electrical conductivity. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.