Viscosity and Electrical Conductivity of Na₂O-SiO₂-ZnO and CaO-SiO₂-ZnO Melts

Abstract

Viscosity (η) and electrical conductivity (κ) have been measured to find out the behavior of ZnO in Na₂O-SiO₂ and CaO-SiO₂ melts. Since ZnO is an amphoteric oxide like Fe₂O₃ and MgO, the oxygen co-ordination number of Zn²⁺ may be assumed to be 4 (Zn²⁺(4)) and 6 (Zn²⁺(6)).
The distribution of Zn²⁺(4) and Zn²⁺(6) in these systems are estimated, and the parameter of K_p is calculated for these systems from the following eq.
K_p=[at%Na⁺ or Ca²⁺]+α[at%Zn²⁺(6)], where α=an equivalent value of Zn²⁺(6) for Na⁺ or Ca²⁺.
The dependence of K_p upon the composition is in agreement with that of κ. The distribution of Zn²⁺(4) and Zn²⁺(6) is closely correlated with the ZnO-content and basicity of melts.