Computer simulation of sodium disilicate glass

Abstract

Extensive molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on sodium disilicate glass Na₂Si₂O₅, using realistic empirical interaction potentials. The structure of the simulated glass agrees reasonably with experimental diffraction data. Analysis of this structure is performed by a number of different methods and the results provide support for the modified random network model. Quantitative values of the sodium diffusion coefficient over the temperature range 1000–2000 K yield a diffusion activation energy which is close to the experimental value.