What is the etch rate for a pH 14 solution on silica glass at room temperature?

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The etch rate of silica glass in a solution with a pH of 14 is influenced by the specific components of the solution. Generally, the etch rate is expected to be very low, potentially in the range of nanometers per month at room temperature. However, when using stronger etchants like hydrofluoric acid (HF), the etch rate can increase significantly to microns per hour. Visible etching occurs at this concentration, indicating that the etching process is effective but not sufficient to dissolve thick glass beakers containing the solution.
Claude Bile
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Greetings,

Just a quick question.

I would like to know what order of magnitude the etch rate will be for a solution with a pH of 14 on silica glass (flat surface at room temp) - are we talking nm/hr? microns/hr? mm/hr?

Thanks,

Claude.
 
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It's going to depend on what is in the solution.

Lots of strong bases (AlOH is one) are stored in silica glass. So at room temp, I'll ballpark that the rate is going to be very low.Perhaps nm/month?

You could etch glass with HF...
 
If those were my three choices, I would say it is microns/hr. Visible etching is observed during that time at that concentration so the scale must be larger than a wavelength of light (500 to 900 nm) but the rate is insufficient to completely dissolve the bottom out of glass beakers (thickness of 1-2 mm) containing pH 14 liquid.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Claude.
 

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