Abstract: FTIR absorption spectra and XRD were used to study the structure of glasses using red mud as raw
materials. The results indicate that Ca(Fe, Mg)Si₂O₆ and 2CaO·Al₂O₃·SiO₂ precipitate as primary and minor crystalline
phase respectively on crystallization processes of glasses. Glasses have interlinked SiO₄, AlO₄ and Fe³⁺O₄ tetrahedra as their most
fundamental units with K⁺, Na⁺, Fe²⁺ and some Fe³⁺ ions acting as charge balancing cations. The short-range order which is similar
to the structure of Ca(Fe, Mg)Si₂O₆ exists in the glasses and has the precursor structures of primary crystalline phase. With the increase
of Fe₂O₃ content, the random state of glass structure increases. The absorption bands of FTIR spectra become broaden and shift from the high
frequency region to lower frequencies. With prolonging nucleation time and improving crystallization temperature, the strongest absorption bands also
shift from the high frequency region to lower frequencies.

Key words: red mud, structure of glass, FTIR absorption spectra