INSIGHTS INTO THE OXIDATION MECHANISM OF MOLYBDENUM IN MOLTEN GLASS

The oxidation mechanism of molybdenum in a molten glass was studied. An attempt was made to determine whether the anodic dissolution of molybdenum occurred in one or more steps and what the reaction products were. The reaction of molybdenum ions in a glass melt at a platinum electrode was investigated. This was followed by study of the corrosion reactions at a molybdenum electrode in the molten glass. Experiments showed that the oxidation of metallic molybdenum occurred in three steps: Mo to Mo3+ (glass) + 3e-; Mo3+ (glass) to Mo4+ (surface/glass) + e- or Mo to Mo4+ (surface/glass) + 4e-; Mo4+ (surface/glass) to Mo6+ (glass) + 6e-. 23 refs.