Small-angle X-ray scattering determination of the distribution of particle diameters in photochromic glasses

The existing methods for determining particle size distributions from small angle X-ray scattering data are reviewed. The improved transform technique was used for calculating diameter distributions N(D) of lightsensitive silverhalide crystallites in photochromic glasses. From the evolution of N(D) during a certain heat treatment it can be concluded that two generations of crystallites of different size are precipitated. In glass I, the mean diameter D increases proportional to the time t of the treatment (reaction-limited growth) and in glass II D3 approximately t (diffusion-limited ripening) is obtained. (author)