The diffusion of water into silica glasses which contained various amounts of Cl was studied at 350 and 825C. The Cl concentrations ranged from less than 50ppm, to up to 1000ppm. The glass samples were heat-treated, in the presence of water vapor, at a pressure of 355Torr. The amount of water which was absorbed was determined, as a function of heat-treatment time, by means of infra-red spectroscopy. It was found that neither the H2O diffusion coefficient, nor its solubility, were affected by the Cl content at either heat-treatment temperature; to within experimental error. On the other hand, Cl and H-bonded molecular H2O appeared to interact with one another to form an infra-red band at 2810/cm. This infra-red band became more intense as the amount of Cl or molecular H2O was increased.

Diffusion of Water in Silica Glasses Containing Different Amounts of Chlorine. R.W.Hepburn, M.Tomozawa: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2001, 281[1-3], 162-70