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Published: 1998

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A process for determining one or more leachate concentrations of one or more components of a glass composition in an aqueous solution of the glass composition by identifying the components of the glass composition, including associated oxides, determining a preliminary glass dissolution estimator, .DELTA. G.sub.p, based upon the free energies of hydration for the component reactant species, determining an accelerated glass dissolution function, .DELTA. G.sub.a, based upon the free energy associated with weak acid dissociation, .DELTA. G.sub.a.sup. WA, and accelerated matrix dissolution at high pH, .DELTA. G.sub.a.sup. SB associated with solution strong base formation, and determining a final hydration free energy, .DELTA. G.sub.f. This final hydration free energy is then used to determine leachate concentrations for elements of interest using a regression analysis and the formula log.sub. 10 (N C.sub.i (g/L))=a.sub.i +b.sub.i .DELTA. G.sub.f. The present invention also includes a method to determine whether a particular glass to be produced will be homogeneous or phase separated. The present invention is also directed to methods of monitoring and controlling processes for making glass using these determinations to modify the feedstock materials until a desired glass durability and homogeneity is obtained.