Effect of p-Block Additions and Substitutions on the Optical and Physical Properties of ZBLAN Glass

Upper valence (d sup 10-s sup 0) p-block materials were quantitatively added or substituted into a ZBLAN (53Zr sub 2 - 3.5 LaF sub 3 - 3.5 AlF sub 3 - 20 NaF) glass. The effect of such compositional changes on the REDOX equilibria, glass forming ability and a number of optical and physical properties, including optical transmission, light scattering, refractive index, thermal expansion and microhardness have been evaluated. Optical levels of substitution have been determined on the basis of these parameters.