Effect of silver nanoparticle on lead-based art glass fabricated from Thailand quartz sands

Abstract

In ancient time, yellow colored glass which used for luxury art glass was actually silver nanotechnology at work by the addition of silver compound into the molten glass. In this work, the lead-alkali silica glass which fabricated using local quartz sands as the silica raw material was added with various concentrations of silver nitrate. Scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to characterize their morphology. Physical and optical properties such as density, refractive index and optical absorption were also measured. After the complete conventional melting process, the bubblefree yellowish glasses were yielded. SEM micrographs showed the presence of silver nanoparticles in the glass matrix that confirmed by EDS. The refractive indices and densities were increased as the increase of the silver contents. It was also showed that the more brilliance on the surface of the glass products was obtained after fired.