Absorption of iron and water in the Na2O-CaO-MgO-SiO2 glasses. I. Separation of ferrous and hydroxyl spectra in the near IR region

A number of 13Na2O-10CaO-6MgO-71SiO2 glasses doped with iron were melted in gas and electric furnaces using for batching both natural materials that are usually used in glass industry, and high purity chemicals. The concentration of Fe2O3 in the glasses was varied from 5 X 10-4 to 0.9 wt%. Absorption spectra of water and ferrous ions for the spectral region 3000-1000 nm (3300-10 000 cm-1) were separately determined from experimental absorption spectra and tabulated. An absorption band for the ferrous ion was observed in the region of 2985 nm (3350 cm-1) which, to our knowledge, has not been reported. A simple algorithm was developed to describe absorption of water and iron in each glass and to simulate the spectra in both pure and iron doped silicate glasses. Only two parameters are necessary for spectra simulation; both can be determined from experimental absorption spectra. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V