Toughened glass panels used as glazing material in multistory buildings are
subject to fracture when they contain nickel sulfide inclusions. The failu
re mechanism is generally attributed to the significant volume increase rel
ated to a polymorphic phase retransformation in nickel sulfide. This invest
igation exploits the ability of micro Raman spectroscopy to analyze minute
inclusions. The technique is able to distinguish between different polymorp
hs and various stoichiometric forms of nickel sulfide and has the potential
to satisfy the need for an in situ, nondestructive analytical technique fo
r the characterization of nickel sulfide inclusions in glass. (C) 2000 Else
vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.