ournal J Am Ceram Soc. s -813(1998) Perspectives on the History of Glass Composition Charles r. Kurkiian Bell Communications Research(Bellcore), Morristown, New Jersey 07960 William R. Prindle,f Santa Barbara, California 93105 The 100th anniversary of The American Ceramic s (see Fig. 1).Up to this time, very little real glass science had corresponds approximately with the 100th anniversary of been done, although, with the limited tools at their disposal what might be considered the start of the age of glass sci- earlier workers did quite remarkable things. Most work was nce, i.e the publication, in germany, in 1886, of the cata- done in an attempt to understand what soda-lime-silica glasse. og of Schott und Genossen, containing 44 optical glass were and to improve their quality. Schott- conducted detailee compositions. The American Ceramic Society centennial studies of the effects of various additions and substitutions to seems, accordingly, to be an appropriate occasion to exam- the basic soda-lime glass composition. He and winkelmann, ine the history of glass composition that both preceded and were the first to attempt to model glass behavior development followed the seminal work of Schott and to survey some of by means of a set of factors with which properties could be the major discoveries and changes in glass composition as ted to odest task ust described. The history of glass structure theories is it has continued to be so with only slight changes. Variations in considered, particularly with regard to the effects of com- roduction techniques and specific use requi osition on structure, and how these relate to glass pro to the deliberate addition of a variety of other oxides, so that erties. The article then continues with a discussion of recent most commercial"soda-lime"glasses now contain six or special glasses and concludes with a description of light more constituents. Over the years, the bulk of commercial guide glasses, the discovery of which has changed the na lasses for most purposes has continued to be based on silica as ture of glass science and the glass industry the primary glass former Research(by X-ray technologies, optical spectroscopy L. Introduction physical property measurements, etc. )during the 20th century wl corresponds approximately with the 100th anniversary of stand their structure and properties well enough to predip.o has been conducted on simple glass compositions to attempt to E 100th anniversary of The American Ceramic Society understand glasses as materials as well as to attempt to t might be considered the start of the age of glass science erties f the disclosure. in 1886. of the work of otto schott and ernst requirements. Although glasses with rather remarkable prope Abbe in Germany. This was the publication of the catalog of ties ranging from infrared transmission and superionic conduc- the"Glastechnisches Laboratorium Schott und genossen tivity to biological activity have been discovered, it is probably not entirely accurate to say that we can design a glass for a iven purpose. Available commercial silicate glasses do their job quite admirably, but they are rather complicated glasses H. A. Anderson--contributing editor that fulfill rather simple tasks. In 1970, the di a simple(titania-silica-silica compound glass fiber could con duct light over rather long distances without requiring ampli- fication has resulted in a"new glass industry"-the"light script No. 190479. Received December 30, 1997; approved February 16, guide industry. Since then, in somewhat of a turnabout, ber, American Ceramic Society scientists have discovered that these simple glasses display a ed from Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY wide range of unexpected, new, complicated, and often incom centennialfeaturePerspectives on the History of Glass Composition Charles R. Kurkjian* Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), Morristown, New Jersey 07960 William R. Prindle*,† Santa Barbara, California 93105 The 100th anniversary of The American Ceramic Society corresponds approximately with the 100th anniversary of what might be considered the start of the age of glass sci￾ence, i.e., the publication, in Germany, in 1886, of the cata￾log of Schott und Genossen, containing 44 optical glass compositions. The American Ceramic Society centennial seems, accordingly, to be an appropriate occasion to exam￾ine the history of glass composition that both preceded and followed the seminal work of Schott and to survey some of the major discoveries and changes in glass composition as well as the reasons that led to them. Although it is certainly of interest to consider a more complete history of the glass industry, we have opted to attempt the more modest task just described. The history of glass structure theories is considered, particularly with regard to the effects of com￾position on structure, and how these relate to glass prop￾erties. The article then continues with a discussion of recent special glasses and concludes with a description of light￾guide glasses, the discovery of which has changed the na￾ture of glass science and the glass industry. I. Introduction THE 100th anniversary of The American Ceramic Society corresponds approximately with the 100th anniversary of what might be considered the start of the age of glass science— the disclosure, in 1886, of the work of Otto Schott and Ernst Abbe in Germany. This was the publication of the catalog of the ‘‘Glastechnisches Laboratorium, Schott und Genossen’’ (see Fig. 1).1 Up to this time, very little real glass science had been done, although, with the limited tools at their disposal, earlier workers did quite remarkable things. Most work was done in an attempt to understand what soda–lime–silica glasses were and to improve their quality. Schott2 conducted detailed studies of the effects of various additions and substitutions to the basic soda–lime glass composition. He and Winkelmann3,4 were the first to attempt to model glass behavior development by means of a set of factors with which properties could be calculated. As a result of the coincidental natural occurrence of alkali, alkaline-earth ‘‘impurities,’’ and sand, soda–lime–silica glass became the ‘‘staple’’ glass composition very early in time, and it has continued to be so with only slight changes. Variations in production techniques and specific use requirements have led to the deliberate addition of a variety of other oxides, so that most commercial ‘‘soda–lime’’ glasses now contain six or more constituents. Over the years, the bulk of commercial glasses for most purposes has continued to be based on silica as the primary glass former. Research (by X-ray technologies, optical spectroscopy, physical property measurements, etc.) during the 20th century has been conducted on simple glass compositions to attempt to understand glasses as materials as well as to attempt to under￾stand their structure and properties well enough to predict prop￾erties from composition and to design a glass from a list of requirements. Although glasses with rather remarkable proper￾ties ranging from infrared transmission and superionic conduc￾tivity to biological activity have been discovered, it is probably not entirely accurate to say that we can design a glass for a given purpose. Available commercial silicate glasses do their job quite admirably, but they are rather complicated glasses that fulfill rather simple tasks. In 1970, the discovery that a simple (titania–silica)–silica compound glass fiber could con￾duct light over rather long distances without requiring ampli￾fication has resulted in a ‘‘new glass industry’’—the ‘‘light￾guide industry.’’ Since then, in somewhat of a turnabout, scientists have discovered that these simple glasses display a wide range of unexpected, new, complicated, and often incom￾H. A. Anderson—contributing editor Manuscript No. 190479. Received December 30, 1997; approved February 16, 1998. *Member, American Ceramic Society. † Retired from Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY. J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 81 [4] 795–813 (1998) Journal centennialfeature 795