Unique properties and potential of glass-ceramics

Abstract

Glass-ceramics have brought us necessary products for our modern society, such as heat-resistant tableware, biomaterials, electronics, photonics, and information technology. It has been more than 60 years since the invention of glass-ceramics, and even today, the research and development of characteristic glass-ceramics are ongoing. In particular, mechanical properties, thermal shock resistance, optical transparency, and ionic conductivity have always been important issues for glass researchers and the glass industry. This article reviews the fundamentals (materials and processes) and characteristic properties of modern glass-ceramics.