Physical characteristics of PbO−ZrO2−SiO2:TiO2 glass ceramics embedded with Pb2Ti2O6 cubic pyrochlore crystal phase: Part-II piezo-optical acoustic and elastic properties

Abstract Comprehensive studies on piezo-optical (elasto optical) effects stimulated by bicolor coherent treatment using Er:glass laser, at λ = 1540 nm and its second harmonic generation (λ = 770 nm) insitu with mechanical stress, ultrasonic velocities and elastic coefficients of PbO−ZrO 2 −SiO 2 : TiO 2 glass ceramics were carried out as a function of concentration of crystallizing agent TiO 2 . The contribution to the piezo-optical effects is attributed to Pb 2 Ti 2 O 6 pyrochlore crystal phases appeared in the glasses during crystallization. The observed piezo-optical effects are attributed to simultaneous interference of the contributions due to the induced gratings (because of the bicolor treatment) and the piezo-optically originated birefringence. The variation of piezo optical coefficients, ultrasonic velocities and various elastic coefficients viz., Young's modulus, shear modulus, micro hardness etc., with the concentration of TiO 2 exhibited the maximal effect at 0.6 mol% content of TiO 2 . From the quantitative analysis these results together with the results of other studies ( viz., XRD, SEM, EPR, IR, optical absorption spectral studies), it is predicted that the PbO−ZrO 2 −SiO 2 glass crystallized with 0.6 mol% of TiO 2 is embedded with higher concentration of Pb 2 Ti 2 O 6 pyrochlore crystal phases (a crystal phase consisting of Ti 4+ ions) and such crystal phases are found to be responsible for observed maximal effects of all the mentioned properties for this sample.