A cellular automaton technique for the solution of a model of glass corrosion

A cellular automaton numerical simulation technique has been used to model float glass corrosion caused by the exposure of glass to humid conditions. Four processes were assumed to take place: mass transfer of water vapour from bulk gas to the glass surface, adsorption of water at the glass surface, diffusion of water from the glass surface to the glass bulk and reaction of water within the bulk glass. These processes constitute the foundations of the model presented here. The objective is to compare the amount of water uptake in the simulation results in the early stages with the experimental results from gravimetric analysis. The cellular automaton solution technique was found to be robust, versatile and computationally efficient. The model results compared favourably to experimental data for mass uptake of water. This solution technique can readily be adapted to include other mass transfer mechanisms and glass chemistry and therefore it is recommended for further use in the field of glass corrosion.