Glasses

Abstract

This chapter has been conceived as a source of information for scientists, engineers, and technicians who need data and commercial-product information to solve their technical task by using glasses as engineering materials. It is not intended to replace the comprehensive scientific literature. The fundamentals are merely sketched, to provide a feeling for the unique behavior of this widely used class of materials. The properties of glasses are as versatile as their composition. Therefore only a selection of data can be listed, but their are intended to cover the preferred glass types of practical importance. Wherever possible, formulas, for example for the optical and thermal properties, are given with their correct constants, which should enable the reader to calculate the data needed for a specific situation by him/herself. For selected applications, the suitable glass types and the main instructions for their processing are presented. Owing to the availability of the SchottAG information, the products of Schott AG [19.1] have a certain preponderance here. The properties of glass types from other manufacturers have been included whenever available.