Borosilicate Glasses

Borosilicate glasses are ubiquitous in modern science and technology. What we generally consider a well-established system in glass science is actually quite young and has a fascinating history. The discovery and commercialization of borosilicate glasses is widely credited to Michael Faraday and Otto Schott, respectively. Since their inception in the nineteenth century, these materials have been exploited for their thermal properties and chemical durability (Duran® and Pyrex®). They are characterized by significant phase separation, both as an attribute (e.g. Vycor®) and a challenge in glass fabrication, and remain the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical examination of glass structure at the short- and intermediate-range length scales. Along with an overview of commercial borosilicate glasses, this chapter addresses structure–property relations, short- and intermediate-range structure as determined by NMR and other spectroscopies, and the impact of both temperature and pressure on the structure of these glasses. This discussion is concluded with several key scientific questions and opportunities that are typical of glasses in general. Owing to the impact of borosilicates on humanity, however, these are critical for advances in understanding and usage of these important materials.