THE AGING OF SILICATE GLASS SURFACES IN HUMID AIR

Slicate glass surfaces were observed over several weeks in normally hu mid laboratory air by atomic force microscopy. Auger spectroscopy and lateral force microscopy measurements were also made. Samples in the s tudy include; vitreous quartz, bulk insulation glass, bulk and fibrous textile e-glass, and bulk container glass. Various features developed on these surfaces are consistent with patterns seen in crystal growth from supersaturated solution. Auger spectroscopy reveals the presence of chemically bound carbon and supports the hypothesis that these cry stals are alkali and alkali earth carbonate species. The presence of t hese crystals is expected to affect the bonding of a coating to silica te surfaces. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.