Glass Surfaces Then And Now

A reservoir of efficient instrumentation capable of detailed and quantitative exploration of glass surface features is now available in the face of the recognition of their crucial importance for both surface and bulk properties as well as performance. Yet it may be instructive to glance at what had been learned about glass surfaces by investigators before the advent of these intricate tools. Among such earlier findings are the recognition of the altered composition and structure of the surface layer, the extension of this disturbance to considerable depth, the effect of surface structure on adsorption, adhesion, wetting, finishing, etc. and on bulk properties. It was recognized that not only bulk composition, but the processing of the glass decisively influenced the composition, structure and behavior of the surface. And, in turn, certain compositional constituents, even in small concentrations, were found to be able to alter the composition and structure of the surface, thus affecting its function. © 1982