Mixed alkali effect in glass irradiated by 50 keV electron beam

A series of three sodium–potassium-silicate glasses with different alkali contents were prepared. The glasses were exposed to a 50 keV electron bombardment of defocused beams of various current densities. Decay curves (alkali X-ray intensity versus time) have been measured and analysed to obtain incubation periods and maximum transport rates. Obtained data have been compared with those known for binary alkali-silicate glass. The results confirm the influence of the mixed alkali effect on the transport behaviour of alkali ions under the electron bombardment.