Specifically, if a piece of aluminized glass is heated to the melting point of the glass will the coating dissolve into it or otherwise react with it?
-
1$\begingroup$ I think nothing will happen - you get molten salt polymer and molten metal phases - very different properties. $\endgroup$– MithoronOct 21, 2015 at 12:14
-
$\begingroup$ @Mithoron would a thermite-like reaction happen? blog.teachersource.com/2011/03/02/silicon-from-sand or would it have to be well above melting point? $\endgroup$– DavePhDOct 21, 2015 at 12:54
-
$\begingroup$ At least with quartz it's supposed to be hard to trigger - researchgate.net/publication/… - obtained by arc discharge (!) $\endgroup$– MithoronOct 21, 2015 at 13:06
-
2$\begingroup$ The aluminum would like to oxidize, and may end up grabbing some oxygen from the glass. It will likely end up as a alumina-silicate glass (with the sodium/boron/whatnot as well). $\endgroup$– Jon CusterOct 21, 2015 at 14:13
1 Answer
Since soda[-lime] glass is specified, then Al will react with the alkali forming an aluminate, e.g. $\ce{Na2Al2O4}$. This may or may not dissolve in the molten glass, depending on concentration of the aluminate(s), temperature and cooling rate. If it precipitates, the glass would have a "frosted" appearance.
-
1$\begingroup$ sodium aluminosilicate glasses definitely exist. $\endgroup$– A.K.Apr 7, 2019 at 1:05