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Glass properties and applications
Research Guide
What is Glass properties and applications?
Glass properties and applications refer to the physical, structural, dielectric, and optical characteristics of amorphous solid materials, such as viscosity, relaxation behavior, and conductivity, along with their uses in semiconductors, substrates, and advanced packaging.
The field encompasses 124,610 works with foundational studies on liquid-to-amorphous transitions, cooperative relaxation, and dielectric responses in glass-forming materials. Key papers include simulations of the liquid-metal–amorphous-semiconductor transition in germanium by Kresse and Häfner (1994) with 21,756 citations and temperature-dependent relaxation properties by Adam and Gibbs (1965) with 5,699 citations. Research spans viscosity measurements in soda-silicate glasses by Fulcher (1925) to classifications of bulk metallic glasses by Takeuchi and Inoue (2005).
Research Sub-Topics
Glass Transition Dynamics
This sub-topic studies the temperature-dependent cooperative relaxation processes and fragility in glass-forming liquids near the glass transition. Researchers use dielectric spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to model dynamics.
Dielectric Relaxation in Glasses
This sub-topic investigates universal dielectric responses, conductivity, and relaxation mechanisms in amorphous solids. Studies explore ac conductivity scaling and hopping models in disordered systems.
Bulk Metallic Glasses
This sub-topic classifies and characterizes bulk metallic glasses by atomic size mismatch, mixing enthalpy, and alloying effects on glass-forming ability. Researchers develop multicomponent alloys for structural applications.
Viscosity of Glasses
This sub-topic analyzes temperature dependence, structural relaxation, and measurement techniques for viscosity in glass melts. Studies cover Arrhenius to VFT models and industrial glass production implications.
Amorphous Semiconductors
This sub-topic examines electronic structure, optical absorption, photoconductivity, and metal-insulator transitions in amorphous semiconductors like a-Si and a-Ge. Researchers model localized states and disorder effects.
Why It Matters
Glass properties enable applications in advanced packaging, where glass core substrates and interposers support next-generation AI engine architectures, as noted in Yole Group’s report on glass materials. Float glass exhibits density from 1.9 to 3.99 Mg/m³ and bulk modulus from 26.1 to 51.5 GPa, supporting structural uses. In optics, silica metasurfaces outperform titanium dioxide in flat optics, per Harvard SEAS research. Bulk metallic glasses, classified by atomic size difference and heat of mixing in Takeuchi and Inoue (2005), find uses in high-strength alloys. GlassKote Float Glass Industries secured over AUD 1.2 billion for low-iron float glass plants, demonstrating industrial scale-up.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"ANALYSIS OF RECENT MEASUREMENTS OF THE VISCOSITY OF GLASSES" by Fulcher (1925), as it provides foundational empirical data on soda-silicate viscosities from 500° to 1400°C, corrected for discrepancies, serving as an accessible entry to glass rheology.
Key Papers Explained
Kresse and Häfner (1994) "<i>Ab initio</i>molecular-dynamics simulation of the liquid-metal–amorphous-semiconductor transition in germanium" establishes simulation methods for phase transitions, which Adam and Gibbs (1965) "On the Temperature Dependence of Cooperative Relaxation Properties in Glass-Forming Liquids" complements with molecular-kinetic theory on rearranging regions. Jonscher (1977) "The ‘universal’ dielectric response" and Jonscher (1999) "Dielectric relaxation in solids" extend to electrical properties across materials. Takeuchi and Inoue (2005) "Classification of Bulk Metallic Glasses..." applies these concepts to alloy design.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Glass core substrates advance in AI packaging via AT&S’s Competence Center and Yole Group reports; 3D printing without glue accelerates innovations; silica flat optics breakthroughs at Harvard SEAS; modeling bioactive glasses from atomic to macro scales; AUD 1.2 billion investment in low-iron float glass plants by GlassKote.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | <i>Ab initio</i>molecular-dynamics simulation of the liquid-me... | 1994 | Physical review. B, Co... | 21.8K | ✕ |
| 2 | On the Temperature Dependence of Cooperative Relaxation Proper... | 1965 | The Journal of Chemica... | 5.7K | ✕ |
| 3 | The ‘universal’ dielectric response | 1977 | Nature | 5.3K | ✕ |
| 4 | Dielectric relaxation in solids | 1999 | Journal of Physics D A... | 5.2K | ✕ |
| 5 | Surface Studies of Solids by Total Reflection of X-Rays | 1954 | Physical Review | 5.1K | ✕ |
| 6 | Upconversion and Anti-Stokes Processes with f and d Ions in So... | 2003 | Chemical Reviews | 4.9K | ✕ |
| 7 | Classification of Bulk Metallic Glasses by Atomic Size Differe... | 2005 | MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS | 4.5K | ✓ |
| 8 | Conduction in non-crystalline systems V. Conductivity, optical... | 1970 | Philosophical magazine | 4.2K | ✕ |
| 9 | ANALYSIS OF RECENT MEASUREMENTS OF THE VISCOSITY OF GLASSES | 1925 | Journal of the America... | 4.1K | ✕ |
| 10 | Electronic processes in non-crystalline materials | 1972 | Thin Solid Films | 4.0K | ✕ |
In the News
Glass Core Substrates: From R&D breakthrough to platform ...
AT&S’s new Competence Center for R&D and IC Substrate Production in Leoben, Austria, which was supported by funding from the European Union’s IPCEI ME/CT, and several ongoing research initiatives w...
Glass core substrates and glass interposers: new growth ...
#### *Yole Group’s new report, Glass Materials for Advanced Packaging 2025, covers how glass has evolved from a standard wafer carrier to a key piece on the board of next-generation AI engine archi...
An Unexpected Breakthrough in Flat Optics
* Harvard SEAS researchers have found that silica, long thought to lack the right properties for optical metasurfaces, can sometimes outperform standard high-index materials like titanium dioxide.
Breakthrough in 3D printing glass — without glue
The method could accelerate innovations in:
GlassKote Float Glass Industries Announces Over AUD 1.2 ...
**In a game-changing leap for the global glass industry, GlassKote FGI Pty Ltd (GK) has confirmed funding exceeding AUD 1.2 billion to build two of the most advanced low-iron float glass plants in ...
Code & Tools
The largest glass property database contains data for more than 420 thousand glass compositions including more than 18 thousand halide and about 38...
A SwiftUI implementation of Apple's liquid glass visual effect, specifically designed for ARKit applications. This library brings the ethereal, ref...
The package provides a collection of utilities that a designer will find useful to answer a variety of design questions.
The refractiveindex.info database is an extensive collection of optical constants for a wide range of materials. The database is in the public doma...
The JARVIS-Tools is an open-access software package for atomistic data-driven materials design. JARVIS-Tools can be used for a) setting up calculat...
Recent Preprints
International Journal of Applied Glass Science - Wiley Online ...
_International Journal of Applied Glass Science_ endeavours to be an indispensable source of information on the application of glass science and engineering across the entire materials spectrum. Th...
Modeling the structural and functional properties of ...
examination of BGs, particularly in the context of modeling approaches, underscores the potential of computational studies in advancing the biomedical applications of these glass materials. As we c...
Float Glass - Properties and Applications
|Property|Minimum Value (S.I.)|Maximum Value (S.I.)|Units (S.I.)|Minimum Value (Imp.)|Maximum Value (Imp.)|Units (Imp.)| Atomic Volume (average)|0.009|0.0095|m3/kmol|549.213|579.725|in3/kmol| Densi...
A Review of Glass Substrate Technologies
the system is converging around substrate which is the main component of packaging. Glass stands out as the superior integration platform for chiplet-based systems. Glass substrates provide unmatch...
From Laboratory to Life: Learning Quartz and Borosilicate ...
Glass materials are at the focal point of our everyday lives and laboratory settings. They feature in equipment and machinery we use daily. They are central in research laboratories and industries ...
Latest Developments
Recent developments in glass properties and applications research include advancements in self-healing and hybrid glasses, such as peptide-based self-healing glass and water-activated adhesive glass, as well as ongoing innovations in the industry driven by AI and sustainability efforts, with the market projected to grow significantly in 2026 (nature.com, nature.com, nature.com).
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What explains the liquid-metal–amorphous-semiconductor transition in germanium?
Kresse and Häfner (1994) used ab initio quantum-mechanical molecular-dynamics simulations based on finite-temperature density-functional theory to model the transition in Ge. The approach involves exact energy minimization for one-electron states. This reveals structural changes during the phase shift.
How does temperature affect cooperative relaxation in glass-forming liquids?
Adam and Gibbs (1965) presented a molecular-kinetic theory linking relaxation behavior to the temperature-dependent size of cooperatively rearranging regions. The region's size determines the temperature variation of relaxation properties. This framework explains observed dependencies in glass formers.
What is the universal dielectric response in solids?
Jonscher (1977) described a universal dielectric response applicable across diverse materials and structures, including dipolar and charge-carrier polarization. The phenomenon appears regardless of material diversity. It characterizes dielectric relaxation universally.
What properties define float glass?
Float glass has atomic volume from 0.009 to 0.0095 m³/kmol, density from 1.9 to 3.99 Mg/m³, and bulk modulus from 26.1 to 51.5 GPa. Energy content ranges from 20 to 25 MJ/kg. These values support applications in flat glass production.
How are bulk metallic glasses classified?
Takeuchi and Inoue (2005) classified bulk metallic glasses into seven groups using atomic size difference, heat of mixing, and period of constituent elements. This applies to characterizing main alloying elements. The method builds on prior results by Inoue.
What databases exist for glass properties?
SciGlass database contains data for over 420 thousand glass compositions, including 18 thousand halide and 38 thousand chalcogenide glasses, with property predictions. Refractiveindex.info provides optical constants for materials. JARVIS-Tools supports data-driven atomistic materials design including glasses.
Open Research Questions
- ? How do computational models from atomic to macro scales predict structural and functional properties of bioactive glasses for biomedical applications?
- ? What mechanical and electrical advantages do glass substrates offer over silicon in chiplet-based AI packaging systems?
- ? Can silica metasurfaces be optimized to consistently outperform high-index materials like titanium dioxide in flat optics?
- ? How do cooperative rearranging region sizes evolve under extreme conditions in novel glass compositions?
- ? What viscosity models extend Fulcher's 1925 analysis to modern low-iron float glasses at industrial scales?
Recent Trends
Glass substrates emerge as superior for chiplet integration due to electrical and mechanical properties in advanced packaging, per recent reviews.
Float glass properties detail density up to 3.99 Mg/m³ and bulk modulus to 51.5 GPa.
Silica outperforms titanium dioxide in metasurfaces (Harvard SEAS, 2026).
GlassKote secured AUD 1.2 billion for low-iron plants.
2025Bioactive glass modeling advances biomedical uses; International Journal of Applied Glass Science covers manufacturing and applications.
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