Model of Diffusion of Sulfur in Soda-lime-silicate Glass: An Experimental and Comparative Study

The diffusion property of sulfur on the soda-lime-silicate float glass surface was studied by using secondary ion mass spectroscopy( SIMS). According to the Fick's Second Law, two models of diffusion of sulfur on the glass surface were built. When the diffusion of sulfate ( S6+) is considered uniquely, the concentration-depth profile of sulfur can not be fitted very well, especially on the top surfaces of the air side and tin side of float glass. So the diffusion of sulfide ( S2-) on the profile of sulfur can not be ignored. The concentration-depth profile of sulfur on both sides of glass can be fitted more exactly when both S6+ and S2- are considerd. Based on the above-mentioned fitting results, it is concluded that the diffusion coefficents of S6+ and S2- of tin side are larger than those of the air side. Moreover, the diffusion coefficents are related to the contacted medium.