Tailoring Glass Properties: Why Chemical Composition and Thermal Treatments Matter

Abstract

Architectural use of glass dates back from the beginning of our era when it was used to make windows. Its range of chemical composition was close to that of current flat or hollow glass, illustrating early optimization of both production process and material properties. In modern buildings glass is ubiquitous, highly visible as in facades or hidden as fibers for thermal insulation or for high-speed telecommunication. This short review describes the main factors that have made this variety of uses possible. The fundamental point is the amorphous nature of glass, which allows pieces of any shape and size to be produced and the properties of the material to be tailored through thermal treatments and incorporation of a host of chemical elements in widely different proportions.