Initial corrosion stages of a heavy metal fluoride glass in water

A 50ZrF(4)-33BaF(2)-10YF(3)-7AlF(3) (mol%) pre-sputtered glass was corroded in H2O for durations between 1 and 50 min at 20 degrees C, 40 degrees C, 6 0 degrees C and 80 degrees C. The profiles of Zr, Ba, Y and Al were measure d by secondary neutral mass spectrometry, H was measured by nuclear reactio n analysis, whereas O was monitored using Rutherford backscattering spectro metry. On the basis of these results it is shown that the corrosion zone ap proaches a composition near that of the BaZrF6 phase. Further, a modified c orrosion model for the initial stages of the glass attack is proposed, wher e H2O is the initiating species. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.