The rapid determination of fluorine in opal glass by pyrohydrolysis

GT V02 1961 074-078

To facilitate analytical control of glass composition, a rapid method for fluorine in opal glass has been devised, using the technique of 'pyrohydrolysis'. The ground glass sample, together with uranium oxide as an 'accelerator', is maintained at 1050" C in a current of steam and the fluorine in the glass is liberated as hydrogen Fluoride. The emergent steam is condensed and the fluorine in the condensate is determined by titration with thorium nitrate solution. The method is capable of high precision; results on a sample of opal glass containing 5% offluorine had a standard deviation of 0.02% F. After a crushed sample of glass has been prepared the determination can be completed in I hour.

H. J. Cluley

The General Electric Company Limited, Central Research Laboratories, Hirst Research Centre, Wembley, England