The irradiation induced colour of soda-lime-silica glass has prompted a renewed interest in Japan in order to develop a recyclable container glass. In this paper, x-ray radiation induced optical absorptions in commercial soda-lime-silica glass were studied by means of optical spectrophotometry and ESR. Four absorption bands at 620,440, 295 and 235nm were induced. The nonbridging oxygen hole centres were mainly responsible for the absorptions at 440 and 620 nm. Absorption at 295nm was attributed to the trapped electrons. The induced colour was completely removed after heating at around 300 degC for 20 minutes. The induced colour was still deep enough for possible application after keeping at room temperature for 10 minutes. The long term decay of the induced colour obeyed the first order kinetics.
