The effect of electron irradiation on the structure and iron speciation in sodium aluminum (iron) phosphate glasses

The effect of 8 MeV electron irradiation on the structure of glasses in the series 40 Na₂O, (20-x) Al₂O₃, x Fe₂O₃, 40 P₂O₅ (mol.%) and on the iron speciation in these samples was studied by FTIR and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. Irradiation up to a dose of 1.0 MGy has no appreciable effects on the character of the bonds within anionic motif of the glass network. Electron irradiation increases the fraction of aluminum in octahedral coordination. Iron in both unirradiated and irradiated glasses is present mainly as Fe(III) (60–75% of the total amount) in the glasses and partly as Fe(II) and the ratio of two forms remains constant up to a dose of 1.0 MGy.