The Structure of Glass

JSGT 1946 V30 T054-T066

In the past, the absence of any fundamental method of predicting the chemical composition necessary to devise a glass with required physical properties has meant that the development of new glasses has involved long and patient investigation based on the results of earlier empirical knowledge and accumulated experience. The development, however, of a theory of the structure of glass by B. E. Warren and his co-workers leads one to hope that in future, the production of new glasses will depend increasingly upon a fundamental understanding of the relation between composition, structure and physical properties. In this connection the recent paper by J. M. Stevels [JSGT_1946_T031-T053] is of obvious importance, meriting careful study by all glass technologists. Prior to Stevels' paper the present author had made some attempt to form a picture of glass structure intended to be useful in his own researches and had formed some tentative conclusions not altogether in agreement 'with those drawn by Stevels. In view of the importance of the subject the author feels that a presentation of his own views, though sketchy and tentative, may serve a useful purpose in stimulating further thought and discussion.

J. E. Stanworth