A brief description of different types of silicate glasses is made and the origin of colour in glasses is
discussed. The principles of corrosion in glass, illustrated with a few examples, will be explained.
Applications of several techniques in the chemical characterization of glasses will be shown,
namely X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical
Absorption Spectroscopy and Laser Ablation Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass
Spectrometry (LA-FTICR/MS), and Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE).
