Electron Microscope Investigation of the Catalyzed Crystallization of Glasses

Abstract

Glass 13 with an admixture of titanium (not over 10%) as catalyst was used for the electron microscope investigation. The investigations were carried out on the original glass and on the transparent and opaque crystallized glasses obtained from it as a result of heat treatment. The technique used was that of replicas obtained from freshly fractured glass surfaces. We used both carbon replicas shadowed by chromium or platinum-palladium alloy and carbon replicas with preliminary shadowing, i.e., replicas taken from fractured surfaces previously coated obliquely with a thin layer of platinum and palladium. The replicas were separated with the aid of a thick gelatin film. The latter was subsequently removed by thorough washing of the replica in hot water.