Victoria AdolphusImagine a world where phone screens don’t crack, windows don’t shatter, and glassware doesn’t break. Thanks to a groundbreaking study by researchers at Tohoku University, that world may soon become a reality.
The Secret to Stronger Glass
Researchers have long been puzzled by the mysterious process of glass fracture. But now, using advanced techniques like synchrotron radiation experiments and computer simulations, scientists have unlocked the secrets of glass’s internal stress.
How Atomic Movements Reduce Stress
It turns out that when atoms within the glass “jump” into nearby empty spaces, surrounding groups of atoms slowly move together to fill the void. This interplay of atomic jumps and collective motion reduces internal stress, protecting the glass from breaking under external force.
A Future of Shatter-Free Glass
The implications of this discovery are enormous. With stronger, more durable glass, industries like consumer electronics, construction, and automotive manufacturing can create products that are more reliable, more efficient, and more sustainable.
What’s Next?
The research team plans to explore whether similar atomic mechanisms operate in other types of glass. Their ultimate goal is to establish universal guidelines for designing glass with superior impact resistance, which could revolutionize applications requiring durable materials.
Share Your Thoughts
What do you think about this breakthrough discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
References
“Discovery of collective nonjumping motions leading to Johari–Goldstein process of stress relaxation in model ionic glass” by Makina Saito, Takeaki Araki, Yohei Onodera, Koji Ohara, Makoto Seto, Yoshitaka Yoda, and Yusuke Wakabayashi, 4 November 2024, Acta Materialia. DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120536
