Study of the mechanical and chemical properties of potassium manganese phosphate glasses

¹ Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Faculté des Sciences, Laboratoire de Chimie du Solide Appliquée, Rabat, Morocco.
² Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Faculté des Sciences, Laboratoire des Matériaux, Nanotechnologies et Environnement, Rabat, Morocco.
³ Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Faculté des Sciences, LMM, dep of physics, Rabat, Morocco.
⁴ Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Ecole Normale, Supérieure Takadoum, Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Matériaux associé à l’AUF (LAF 502), Rabat, Morocco.

Abstract

Homogeneous phosphate glasses having the general formula 20K₂O-xMnO-(80-x)P₂O₅ were synthesized using a melt-quenching method. The amorphous nature of the samples was asserted by X–ray diffraction. The glasses are studied in order to evaluate the influence of MnO addition on the chemical and mechanical properties, such as, dissolution rate, average compressive strength (Rc), Young’s modulus (E) and limit strain (ε_lim). Some studies show that the addition of MnO significantly reduces the degradation rate (D_R) of soluble phosphate glasses and enhanced chemical stability of both alkali-resistance and acid-resistance. MnO interfere with the chemical structure of the glass, and consequently improve their mechanical properties. Indeed, the mechanical measurements showed that the glass structure was modified by the addition of MnO oxide, becoming more rigid, and as a result, increasing the compressive strength (Rc), Young’s modulus (E). These new materials could be an important opportunity for applications in the fields of building, construction, civil engineering, etc…