The oxidation state of sulfur is detected in Na2O-CaO-SiO2 float glass by synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra at the sulfur K edge. The measured spectra show the only presence of S6+ in the Na2O-CaO-SiO2 float glass and the oxidation state of sulfur do not change with the increase of glass depth. It is also found that, after the melt has gone through the molten tin bath, the S6+ is the dominant species, but S2- is also present on both surfaces. It is not certain whether cation bonds to S2- or not, because there are many cations dissolved in the melted tin which makes the spectrum complicated.
The diffusion property of sulfur on the soda-lime-silicate float glass surface was studied by using secondary ion mass spectroscopy(SIMS).According to the Fick's Second Law,two models of diffusion of sulfur on the glass surface were built.When the diffusion of sulfate(S^(6+)) is considered uniquely,the concentration-depth profile of sulfur can not be fitted very well,especially on the top surfaces of the air side and tin side of float glass.So the diffusion of sulfide(S^(2-)) on the profile of sulfur can not be ignored.The concentration-depth profile of sulfur on both sides of glass can be fitted more exactly when both S^(6+) and S^(2-) are considerd.Based on the above-mentioned fitting results,it is concluded that the diffusion coefficents of S^(6+) and S^(2-) of tin side are larger than those of the air side.Moreover,the diffusion coefficents are related to the contacted medium.
