The structures of Mg
3Al
2Si
3O
12 and Ca
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glasses were investigated by means of the radial distribution function (RDF) analysis based on X-ray diffraction data. The Al and Si atoms in these glasses are essentially in four-fold coordination. The T–O (T=A1 and Si) distance of Mg
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glass (1.68Å) estimated from the peak position of radial distribution function curve is almost equal to that of Ca
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glass (1.70Å). These T–O distances are consistent with the common average T–O distance in AlO
4 and SiO
4 tetrahedra. Mg–O distance in Mg
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glass is 2.1Å and coordination number of Mg atom is 4.8. These values are smaller than those in pyroxene and pyrope crystals. Ca–O distances in Ca
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glass is 2.4Å and coordination number of Ca atom is 7.1–7.4. These values are in conformity with those obtained in grossular and diopside crystals. The short range structures of Mg
3Al
2Si
3O
12 and Ca
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glasses, the oxygen coordination around T, Mg, and Ca atoms resemble those of MgSiO
3 and CaSiO
3 glasses, respectively. Especially, the G(r) curve of Mg
3Al
2Si
3O
12 glass is very similar to that of MgSiO
3 glass.
View full abstract