Research Article Open Access

Er3+-Doped Soda-Lime Silicate Glass: Artificial Pink Gemstone

Pichet Limsuwan1, Kheamrutai Thamaphat2, Jakrapong Kaewkhao3 and Weeranut Kaewwiset2
  • 1 Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
  • 2 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
  • 3 Center of Excellence in Glass Technology and Materials Science (CEGM), Faculty of Science and Technology, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand

Abstract

Er3+-doped soda-lime silicate glasses of the composition (in mol%) (65-x)SiO2:25Na2O:10CaO:xEr2O3 (where x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) were fabricated by conventional melt quenching technique. The physical and optical properties were measured and investigated. The erbium oxide enters the glass network as a modifier by occupying the interstitial space in the network and generating the NBOs to the structure. The molar volume increases with an increase in Er2O3 content, which is attributed to the increase in the number of Non-Bridging Oxygen (NBOs). The increase of NBOs in the structure generally leads to an increase in average atomic separation. The density, molar volume and refractive index of glasses increased linearly with increasing Er2O3 concentration. The color of glasses was changed from light pink to intense pink as the Er2O3 concentration was increased from 1 to 5 mol%. The Vickers hardness of Er3+-doped glasses was found to be in the range of 450-500 HV. In this study, it can be concluded that the soda-lime silicate glasses doped with high Er2O3 concentration has intense pink color and high value of hardness which is suitable to be cut as gems.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 9 No. 11, 2012, 1769-1775

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2012.1769.1775

Submitted On: 16 July 2012 Published On: 29 August 2012

How to Cite: Limsuwan, P., Thamaphat, K., Kaewkhao, J. & Kaewwiset, W. (2012). Er3+-Doped Soda-Lime Silicate Glass: Artificial Pink Gemstone. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 9(11), 1769-1775. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2012.1769.1775

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Keywords

  • Er3+-Doped Glass
  • Pink Gemstone
  • Color Measurement
  • Optical Properties
  • NBOs