Alkali ion exchange in γ-irradiated glasses

The alkali ion exchange of γ-irradiated glasses was investigated using the structural energy barrier model for ion exchange of glasses. It is shown that rates of alkali ion exchange have a non-Arrhenius behaviour depending both on irradiation dose and dose rate. For this reason some effects cannot be simulated by external irradiation and require in situ measurements. Higher doses and dose rates of γ-radiation lead to increased ion exchange rates. Significant changes occur in the activation energies demonstrating a many times decrease depending on glass composition. Radiation-induced changes are higher at relatively low temperatures being diminished by increased glass temperature. Numerical estimations show that changes in alkali ion exchange kinetics occur below the glass network damaging doses.