Silicate Glasses: A Class of Amorphous Materials

The understanding of the technical processes of geometrical microstructuring of glass components presumes the knowledge of the materials structure, i.e. their microstructure as well as the arrangement of and the interaction between the ions. It is necessary to distinguish between the materials microstructure and the aim of the process to create geometrically defined microstructures in glass components. Chapter 1 addresses the ionic and atomic arrangement in silicate glasses and its effect on the glass properties. The chapter is not exhaustive but explores the areas relevant to geometrical microstructuring.

As we see, the similarity of the terms materials microstructureand geometrical microstructuring of componentssignals the practical difficulty to separate them. The better we understand the behaviour of ions in glass, the better equipped we are to technically influence geometrical microstructures in glass components. We will use accessible language to explain the solid-state fundamentals and chemical processes, so that, for example, specialists working in mechatronics can use the book as quick and practical reference.

Concerning the properties of silicate glasses it is very interesting that they are extremely brittle materials but if used in fibre form in reinforced polymers, they provide the composite with strength. It is well known that the smaller the diameter of the glass fibres, the higher their strength. It can be expected that small microstructured glass components with the desired property profile of interest for applications in microtechniques can be produced.