The Spontaneous Growth of Silver Films on Glasses of High Silver Content

JSGT 1953 V37 T124-T128

Glasses in the wt% composition range: Ag₂O 5–60, B₂O₃ 30–85, SiO₂ 0–60, Al₂O₃ 0–20 were melted. A mirror-like film of silver metal was formed on the surface of such glasses under a variety of conditions. Experiments are described which show that water vapour is essential to the formation of such films, and that light (particularly ultra-violet) and heat accelerate the reaction. Typical surface resistance data are given.

G. E. Rindone