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The glass network former can be thought of as the backbone of a glass composition. Changing this element or compound will fundamentally change the properties of the final material.

Just like other materials such as steel, the properties of glass can be precisely tuned through the careful addition of chemical modifiers to suit a huge array of demanding applications.

Glass goes through different transitions during melting. Creating stress-free glass requires careful maneuvering through the glass transition, softening point, and crystallization temperatures.

The versatility of glass has enabled incredible achievements, but the journey has by no means reached its end. Learn what makes glass unique and how it continues to find new cutting-edge applications in the first installment of our Glass 101 series.

A key problem with nuclear power is what to do with the waste products generated when the fuel is completely spent. Vitrification is an established solution, but there is still much room for improvement. 

As emissions legislation kicks in and electricity generation moves away from fossil fuels toward renewables, there may well be a swing in glass manufacture from gas to electric energy.

Advances in the formulations of composite and glass ionomer dental materials have given them the required strength and durability to make them effective products for tooth restoration. The properties of both composite and glass ionomer dental materials can be improved by the inclusion of bioactive glass.

An estimated 2.5% of primary hip and knee replacements and to 10% of joint revision surgeries are complicated by infection. Coating implants with bioactive glass would make their surfaces unsuitable for bacterial colonization and could dramatically lower infection rates.

The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria is driving research into new antimicrobial materials. Bioactive glass is showing great promise due to its ability to resist bacterial growth on its surface.

Although materials such as metal, plastic, clays, and even biological cells have been used in 3D printing, the 3D printing of glass has remained elusive. However, new research is breaking this convention and glass is now being 3D printed to a high quality.