Infrared Spectra and Atomic Arrangement in Fused Boron Oxide and Soda Borate Glasses

Abstract

The infrared absorption spectra of fused B 2 O 3 and of a series of soda borate glasses are presented. These spectra were obtained using vacuum‐pressed briquettes of the powdered glass and powdered KBr. The spectrum of fused B 2 O 3 shows quite definitely that this glass does not consist of a completely continuous triangularly coordinative network. It is shown that hydrogen bonds play an important part in the atomic arrangement of the glasses of zero or low soda content. The B 2 O 3 glass apparently consists of complexes of an approximate unit (B 9 O 14 )‐ held together by hydrogen bonds. One in nine borons is tetrahedrally coordinated. The glasses of low soda content are similar. The spectra for soda concentrations greater than 15% did not permit the determination of the atomic arrangement with exactitude, but it is shown to be quite different from that found in glasses with 10% Na 2 O or less.