Flow behavior of ten iron-containing silicate compositions

The viscosity of ten iron-containing silicates has been measured over the temperature range 400 to 650 C. The compositions contain trace amounts up to 30 wt. pct. or 20 mole. pct. Fe3O4 from 10 to 20 wt. pct. or 10 to 20 mole. pct. Na2O and the remainder is SiO2. Samples were melted in air to form oxidized samples, in forming gas (95% N2-5% H2) to form mildly reduced samples, and in forming gas with carbon in the batch to form strongly reduced samples. In general, the viscosity decreased with increasing mole. pct. Na2O and decreasing mole. pct. SiO2 for a given temperature. In samples with increasing mole. pct. FeO(x) the difference in the viscosity between the oxidized sample and the reduced sample grew in magnitude at a given temperature. In all of the compositions, the log or viscosity, vs reciprocal-of-temperature relation shows curvature with an apparent activation energy between 90 and 100 kcal/mole.