Abstract: Conductivity of glasses in the systems SiO2•PbO•RO, (where R=Ca, Sr or Ba) was investigated between room temperature and 530 K. The dependence of log resistivity as well as the activation energy on the PbO content has been studied. Based on the present experimental results, the possible different conduction mechanisms in such glasses are discussed. It was postulated that Pb2+ ions may represent the major charge carrying species in these glasses. This assumption was confirmed by the calculations of the mean distance between the interstitial Pb2+ ions and the effective center of the O2- ions in the glass networks. The variation in the values of the density and the molar volume with PbO content is also discussed in view of the obtained activation energies for the studied glass-systems.

Key words: Ionic conductivity, Pb ion, Silicate glass systems