STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS IN CHEMICALLY POLYMERISED GLASS NETWORKS AND THEIR EFFECTS

The network morphology of oxides and glasses formed by chemical polymerisation is subject to considerable structural manipulations. The structural variations were introduced by the chemical reactions of metallorganic compounds that construct and shape the underlying oxide networks in these sol-gel systems. In addition, significant nonstoichiometry may be introduced during the thermal removal of structural hydroxyl and organic groups that frame the oxide networks. Resultant non-equilibrium states persisted at very high temperatures and affected the thermoplastic and photonic properties of these materials. Among the strongly affected properties are sintering and melting temperatures, molten state viscosity, and photoluminescence. The genesis and nature of the structural variations in the chemically polymerised glass networks and exploratory experiments showing their effect on the thermoplastic and photonic properties are presented.