Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of essentially dry alkali metal (R.sup.1) aluminofluorophosphate glasses optionally containing at least one divalent metal (R.sup.2) which exhibits a transition temperature below about 350.degree. C., good chemical durability, resistance to weathering, and glass stability, and which demonstrate the capability of being molded at temperatures below 400.degree. C. into complex shapes. The alkali metal aluminofluorophosphate glasses consist essentially, as analyzed on an atomic basis, between about R.sup.1 AlP.sub.2 F.sub.2 O.sub.6 and R.sup.1 .sub.3.75 AlP.sub.3 F.sub.4 O.sub.9 with the requirement that the components comply with the following atomic ratios:F:Al >2 but <4 (preferred 3.+-.0.5)P:Al >2 but <3R.sup.1 :P >0.5 but <1.24 (preferred >0.75 but <1.1)Those values, expressed in terms of weight percent as analyzed on the oxide basis, convert to the following approximate ranges:R.sup.1.sub.2 O 13-38Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 16-23P.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: Alkali-Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 -B.sub.2 O.sub.3 -P.sub.2 O.sub.5 glass compositions suitable for providing molded optical elements or the like, exhibiting glass transition temperatures below 500.degree. C., refractive index values (n.sub.d) above 1.523, and acceptable water durability are disclosed.