Physicists have discovered a way to create perfect ultra-strong glass

American physicists have demonstrated that so-called "perfect glass" can exist. Researchers from the University of Oregon have created a theoretical model of the material, which for decades was considered a paradox. The work was published in the journal Physical Review Letters (PRL).

Ordinary glass is structurally closer to a liquid than a crystal: its molecules are arranged randomly and can form a variety of configurations. Therefore, glass is considered an amorphous material. In crystals, by contrast, the atoms are arranged in a strict, repeating lattice.

The idea of "perfect glass" presupposes an unusual state of matter. Its structure appears random on the surface, but in reality, it is the only possible one. In physics, this state is described as a system with minimal entropy—that is, without alternative ways of arranging the particles.

This possibility was first proposed by chemist Walter J. Kauzmann in 1948. He noted that when liquids are cooled, the entropy of glass decreases and could theoretically reach a limit at which the structure becomes unique.

In their new study, the scientists used computer modeling to demonstrate that a similar state is possible in a two-dimensional system of particles. In the simulation, the scientists allowed the particles to change size during packing, which helped to achieve an amorphous yet highly ordered structure.

The model glass proved to be particularly stable: each particle has, on average, six contacts with its neighbors, making the material harder and more stable. Upon impact, it should also behave differently than ordinary glass—the vibrations will be uniform, like those of crystals.

For now, ideal glass exists only in theory. The scientists note that it is impossible to create it using conventional cooling methods, so new technological approaches will be required to produce such a material.

Source: https://www.gazeta.ru/