Tin in float glass: A diffusion-reaction model based on surface analysis explains the tin hump

The aim of this work was the characterization of commercial float glasses i n view of their interaction with the tin bath melt in the float chamber. De pth profile analyses were performed both in the nanometer and the micromete r ranges using secondary neutral mass spectrometry, Rutherford backscatteri ng spectrometry and electron probe microanalysis. Conversion electron Mossb auer spectrometry was applied to describe the ratio of Sn2+ and Sn4+ as a f unction of penetration depth. From the depth profiles obtained in the nanom eter and micrometer ranges, effective diffusion coefficients could be calcu lated for both regimes. Based on these results a qualitative diffusion-reac tion model was developed which allows the interpretation of the tin anomaly found in several of the glasses.