Absorption characteristics of Cu²⁺, Mn³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions in ternary silicate (20Na₂O.10RO.70SiO₂, where R=Ca, Sr, Ba) glasses were investigated. The intensities of absorption bands due to Cu²⁺ ion was found to increase with increasing ionic radii of the alkaline earth ions whereas it was found to decrease in case of Mn³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions with increasing ionic radii of the alkaline earth ions. The results were discussed in the light of relation between linear extinction coefficients of these ions and coulombic force of alkaline earth ions. The change in intensities of Cu²⁺, Mn³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ion is attributed due to change in silicate glass compositions.

The effects of SiO₂ (amorphous) and TiO₂ (crystalline, rutile) fillers on softening point (𝑇_s), glass transition temperature (𝑇_g), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and dielectric constant (𝜀) of zinc bismuth borate, ZnO–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ (ZBIB) glass microcomposites have been investigated with a view to its use as the white back (rear glass dielectric layer) of plasma display panels (PDPs). The experimentally measured properties have also been compared with those of theoretically predicted values. Both the experimental and theoretical trends of these properties with added filler contents correlate very well. The interaction of fillers with glass which occurred during sintering at 560°C has also been monitored by XRD and FTIR spectroscopic analyses. The microstructures and distribution of fillers in the glass matrix have been analyzed by SEM images. It is observed that the fillers have partially dissolved in the glass at the firing temperature leaving some unreacted filler as residue which results in ceramic–glass microcomposites. In consideration of the desired properties of white back of PDPs, the addition of TiO2 filler to ZBIB glass is found to be more preferable than SiO₂ filler. The addition of 10 wt% TiO₂ filler yielded 𝑇_s, 𝑇_g, CTE and 𝜀 values of 560°C, 480°C, 82 × 10^-7/K and 14.6 which are found to meet the desired values of < 580°C, < 500°C, < 83 × 10^-7/K and < 15, respectively with respect to use of PD200 glass as substrate in PDP technology.

A series of chloroborosilicate glass having composition (in mol%) (100−x)(42SiO₂–30B₂O₃–20BaO–4K₂O–4Al₂O₃)–xBaCl₂ (where 𝑥 = 0−30) has been prepared by the melt quench technique yielding transparent monolithic glasses up to 𝑥 = 22.5. Structural investigation by infrared reflection and UV–vis–NIR absorption revealed the bridging action of Cl atom and decrease in non-bridging oxygens with the increase in BaCl₂ content. Thermal properties (𝑇_g, 𝑇_d and 𝑇_s) were measured by the dilatometry and softening point measurement. Viscosity was calculated using the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation. Elastic constants were measured by the ultrasonic method. Other mechanical properties like hardness, fracture toughness were also measured. All of the thermal and mechanical properties exhibited a similar trend of anomalous variation as a function of the BaCl₂ content, showing maxima at 10 mol% and a sharp increase at 25 mol% BaCl₂ content. The anomaly has been explained by the structural point of view with the help of the aforementioned spectroscopic data.