It was recalled that, when heated to high temperatures, many glasses took up water from moisture-containing environments. This led not only to changes in local water concentrations, but also to non-uniform structural changes within the glass. These structural changes affected many structure-sensitive properties, including the diffusivity of ions. Experimental data for the uptake of water by a Type I silica glass, Infrasil 302, and by an alkaline-earth boroaluminosilicate glass, Corning Code 1737, were considered as well as the influence of the incorporation of water into these glasses on the diffusion of Na. Furthermore, the modification of glass near the surface by the uptake of water, leading in the case of the alkaline-earth boroaluminosilicate glass to the creation of a very effective barrier layer against the diffusion of Na, was addressed.

Incorporation of Water into Glasses and its Influence on the Diffusion of Cations, Including the Creation of Diffusion Barriers. L.Tian, R.Dieckmann: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2006, 352[6-7], 679-89