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The common problems connected with alkali ion migration during EPMA were studied on glasses containing nearly all possible alkali ions (Na, K, Rb, Cs). Binary silica glasses were prepared by melting from a very pure batch in Pt crucible. The glasses were carefully polished using alcohol to prevent surface corrosion by water and they were stored in vacuum. The specimens were coated with carbon layers approximately 30-nm thick and exposed to a 50-keV electron beam of 100 mm diameter. It was found that all alkali ions migrate under the electron beam, but the rate of the migration depends on the current density. The decay curves (characteristic X-ray intensity versus time) are similar in shape in all cases. The decay curve shows two transport regimes, the ®rst being linear-like, the second being the exponentiallike. The ®rst transport regime busts into the rapid alkali migration after a time known as the incubation period. The period is in general longer for the largeralkali ions size. It was found that even large rubidium and caesium ions migrate inside the glass with the same mechanism as sodium and potassium ions. While for K, Rb, and Cs ions the incubation periods were observed under the suitable experimental conditions, binary glass containing Na exhibits no observable incubation period. Except for the binary Na 2 O SiO 2 glass, the suitable experimental conditions for reliable quantitative EPMA can be found.

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