Nucleation and Crystallization Phenomena in Glass-Ceramics

Glass-ceramics are modern multiphase materials. Different types of glass-ceramics can be fabricated and their properties tailored to meet specific requirements. It is possible, therefore, to produce glasses that combine desirable optical properties such as transparency and mechanical properties such as strength. Furthermore, this controlled development of glass-ceramics also enables the fabrication of materials exhibiting properties that are unknown in conventional glasses and ceramics. In this article, the authors discuss nucleation and crystallization phenomena in the controlled development of various glass-ceramics on the basis of their own work. The reaction mechanisms in the formation of glass-ceramics and their microstructures are illustrated. In addition, the resulting properties of the glass-ceramics and their particular applications are presented.