Abstract
Static fatigue of a simple soda‐lime glass has been investigated in relation to the sensitivity of this glass to atmospheric corrosion. An analysis of the failure process has been given which is based on the concept that inherent surface flaws grow by corrosive mechanisms to critical dimensions by virtue of a reaction between water vapor in the atmosphere and components of the glass. The rate of this reaction is determined by the stress conditions around local areas and the temperature, pressure, and composition of the surrounding atmosphere. Since the experimental work shows a close relationship between the temperature dependence of the failure process and that of the self diffusion of sodium ion in bulk glass it is concluded that alkali content is responsible for the very low long time strengths of most inorganic glasses.

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