Abstract
FTIR spectra of three MgO-PbO-B2O3 glass series have been analyzed. There is a decrease in the fraction N-4 of four coordinated boron with increasing the MgO content, at the expense of PbO. A new technique has been presented to make use of the N-4 data and follow the change in the modifier and former fractions of PbO and MgO. These fractions change markedly, at different rates, with the glass composition. The fraction of modifier MgO is always less than the MgO content, which suggests a former role of this oxide in the studied glasses. The ability of the glass to include MgO increases with increasing PbO content. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.