PERSPECTIVES ON THE HISTORY OF GLASS COMPOSITION

The 100th anniversary of The American Ceramic Society corresponds appr oximately with the 100th anniversary of what might be considered the s tart of the age of glass science, i,e., the publication, in Germany, i n 1886, of the catalog of Schott und Genossen, containing 44 optical g lass compositions. The American Ceramic Society centennial seems, acco rdingly, to be an appropriate occasion to examine the history of glass composition that both preceded and followed the seminal work of Schot t and to survey some of the major discoveries and changes in glass com position as well as the reasons that led to them. Although it is certa inly of interest to consider a more complete history of the glass indu stry, we have opted to attempt the more modest task just described. Th e history of glass structure theories is considered, particularly with regard to the effects of composition on structure, and how these rela te to glass properties. The article then continues with a discussion o f recent special glasses and concludes with a description of lightguid e glasses, the discovery of which has changed the nature of glass scie nce and the glass industry.