Hardness and crack behavior of compressed borate glasses

Heat-treatment of multivalent ion containing glasses in a hydrogen atmosphere may cause both reduction of the multivalent ions and ionic inward diffusion, resulting in improved glass properties. Bismuth-doped glasses are also interesting objects not only concerning the reduction induced diffusion, but also concerning the metal particle formation, and the broadband near infrared luminescence. Both the inward diffusion and the infrared luminescence depend on the bismuth oxidation state. The latter can be varied by adjusting the parameters of the heat-treatment, e.g., time, temperature, and partial pressure of hydrogen. Here, we present results on the effect of the heat-treatment on the optical properties of bismuth-doped sodium aluminosilicate glasses.