A Study of the Electrical Properties of Alkali–Lime–Silica Glasses, Some Containing Boric Oxide or Alumina, in Relation to Glass Structure

JSGT 1952 V36 T005-T055

The electrical properties of glasses offer, at first sight, a field of theoretical and experimental investigation capable of yielding important information about the nature and structure of glass. In the theoretical treatment, however, it is necessary to make simplifying assumptions leading to expressions which are only first approximations, and the experimental work presents difficulties which tend to limit seriously the accuracy of the experimental observations. Nevertheless, the measure of agreement between experimental results and the approximate expressions derived from the simplified theoretical treatment indicates that results of qualitative value can be obtained from a study of the electrical properties of glasses, though quantitative deductions drawn from such study would be unreliable. In the present paper a theoretical survey is made of the electrical conductivity, dielectric constant and power factors of glasses in relation to composition and structure. This is followed by a description of experimental observations of these and related properties on five series of glasses, and the experimental results are discussed in relation to the theoretical treatment. The discussion shows clearly that if the full measure of information is to be drawn from this important field of investigation there is need for a more exact theoretical treatment and also for experimental observations of greater accuracy than has hitherto been obtained.

H. Moore & R. C. De Silva