This is the first book to discuss the correlation between the performance of industrial processes and practice-relevant properties, such as strength and optical properties. Interdisciplinary in his approach, the author discusses both the science and technology, starting with glass past and present, its structure, and rheology. The sections on properties include mechanical strength and contact resistance, ageing, mechanics of glass processes, the production and control of residual stresses, high-tech producers and current research and development. Applications covered include glazing, packaging, optical glass, glass fibers for reinforcement, and abrasive tools.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION GLASS, A CERAMIC MATERIAL Four Classes of Materials Ashby's Charts Co-Selecting Materials Performance Indexes Shape Factors in Mechanical Design GLASS PRE- AND HISTORY Natural Glasses Early Glasses First Optical Glasses Modern Glasses APPLICATIONS OF GLASSES Glazing Packaging Optical Glass Glass Fibres for Insulation and Reinforcement Abrasive Tools Glass Manufacturers GLASS STRUCTURE Introduction Silica Glass and Related Glasses Organic and Chalcogenide Glasses Avoiding Crystallization Surface Structure GLASS RHEOLOGY Viscosity Glass Transition and its Observation How to 'Observe' Glass Transition? Viscous Response of Glass Visco-Elastic Response of Glass Tempering of Glass MECHANICAL STRENGHT OF GLASS Theoretical Strength Tensile Resistance of Glass Stress Concentration Linear Elasticity Crack Tip Stress Field Toughness Measurement Influence of Residual Stress on Strength and Fragmentation Statistic Weibull Analysis CONTACT RESISTANVCE OF GLASS Sharp and Blunt Contact Sharp Contact Resistance Abrasion Resistance Cutting of Glass Application to other Materials AGEING OF GLASS Stress Corrosion Charles and Hillig Theory Life Time Under Static Fatigue Applications MECHANICS OF GLASS PROCESSES Introduction Float Process Blow-and-Blow and Press-and-Blow Process Fusion Draw PRODUCTION AND CONTROL OF RESIDUAL STRESSES Introduction Residual Stresses in Flat Glass Basics of Photoelasticity in Flat Glass Stress Meters HIGH-TECH PRODUCERS AND R&D Market Trend Driven R&D Flat Display Panel Thin Film Technology Residual Stresses in Thin Film Applications Conclusion APPENDICES

Author Biography

Eric Le Bourhis initially taught at a secondary school in Lima, Peru, between 1989 and 1991. He then returned to France, gaining his PhD at Paris VII University in 1994, when he began his investigations of the thermo-mechanical properties of semiconductors. After this, he joined Evry University for one year as an assistant professor, before moving to the Saint Gobain R&D team at Aubervilliers for four years as an engineer. In 1998, he returned to academia, taking up a post at Poitiers University where he has been a professor since 2002. Since 1998, Prof Le Bourhis has been promoting sol-gel hybrid coatings in close collaboration with glass industrial manufacturers, while his other research activities focus on the mechanical properties of thin-films and nanostructures.