| Abstract Scope |
Glasses, in a way, operate in a more loose relationship with thermodynamics than many materials. They scoff at the notion of melting points, with supercooling a key part of their formation. When solidification happens, the glass transition can fluctuate widely with cooling rate and is not even a fixed point in temperature. Even during their dissolution, amorphous silicate phases precipitate on their surfaces with no consideration to the thermodynamically stable crystalline end points. Thermodynamics influences all materials, however – even ones as favorable to metastable states as glasses. This talk will explore how improved understanding of thermodynamics in glass systems can help to enable smart materials development and improved models for performance. |