Insights into the glass network structure of coal fly ash-based glass

Abstract

Coal fly ash is the by-product of coal combustion in thermal power plants. The chemical composition of coal fly ash allows it to be utilized as a secondary raw material for glass production. Na2CO3 and CaCO3 were introduced in the batch as raw materials for glass network modification. Dark homogenous glass was obtained by melting the batch and quenching it on the stainless steel in the air. This research investigates the relative share of structural units of the glass network by deconvolution of the part of the FTIR spectra. Results show that most dominant structural units contain one and two bridging oxygen per [SiO4] tetrahedral indicating low glass network connectivity.