Effects of Fe2O3-[BOx] reaction on sodium borosilicate glass structure doping with nano to macro sized α-Fe2O3 particles.

• Low content of α-Fe 2 O 3 particles, spanning a particle size range from nanometers to microns, were employed in reactions with sodium borosilicate glass. • Through experimental characterization and numerical simulation, we analyzed the effect of iron oxide particle size on the color of dispersion systems. • Compared to the batch only, less distortion happened by using the melted cullet. Smaller particle sizes of iron oxide doping at 1100 ℃ could retain the structure stability. • We systematically introduced a constitutive model of the reactive process. Fe3+ is readily reacted with structural units to modify various properties of the borosilicate glasses and glass ceramics. However, there exists some controversies on Fe 2 O 3 containing borosilicate glasses: (1) whether the Fe 2 O 3 turned into the nanometer-sized polycrystalline structure or reacted with the glass matrix to form a new substance and (2) whether the role of Fe 2 O 3 was depended on its concentration in the network of glass. Theoretical extinction spectra of α-Fe 2 O 3 particles ranging from 1 to 180 nm in borosilicate glass align with UV–vis absorption spectra. Based on the Na 2 O-B 2 O 3 -Fe 2 O 3 phase diagram , x Fe 2 O 3 ·(100- x) [41.6B 2 O 3 –20.7Na 2 O-19.2CaO-9.7Al 2 O 3 –7.0SiO 2 –0.6ZnO] (x =1.20∼1.95 mol%) were prepared for this study, analyzing from exterior characteristics to interior structure. Molecular vibrational spectroscopy and component structure measurement were applied to study the effect of doping α-Fe 2 O 3 powders (particle sizes of 30 nm, 1 μm, 75 μm) on the sodium borosilicate glasses. Combination of experimental characterization and numerical simulation were also utilized to investigate the effects of iron oxide particle size on the color of dispersion systems. We discovered that (i) doping with either nanometer-sized or micron-sized particles of α-Fe 2 O 3 can result in both the substitution for B3+ in tetra-coordination [BO 4 ] and the bonding with [BO 3 ] units within the amorphous network of sodium borosilicate glasses; (ii) Even at lower concentrations, α-Fe 2 O 3 can still act as a network intermediate, combining both its former role and modifying properties. Based on these outcomes, for the reactive process, we formulated a constitutive model which offers valuable insights into understanding the behavior of iron oxide in sodium borosilicate glass. These findings are crucial for comprehending the processes involved in matrix preparation and are pivotal for progressing to the subsequent stage where designing and fabricating nanocomposite materials based on these matrices with spatial separation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]