Abstract
Recent studies are reviewed on nucleation and its application for the fabrication of new type of glasses and functional glass ceramics, innovating optical, photonic, electro-magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties. Crystallization develops fully or partially with various morphologies with crystal growth oriented or not, in the form of dense ceramics, dispersed particles, slabs or fibers. For optical non-linearity Cr3O4-SiO2-TiO2 films was studied. Formation of Cd-S-Se compound was realized by Femtosecond laser beam. CuCl crystallites precipitated on heating the appropriate compositions of glass. For solid state electrolyte, AgI containing glass composites were made. Controlled precipitation of hexaferrite for use of perpendicular magnetic recording, and lead titanate of strong ferroelectric-piezoelectric character were studied. Crystallization involves the mechanism of increasing bending strength, abrasion resistance, surface hardness or adjusting the thermal expansion, softening temperature and chemical durability. Translucency is another important factor for bioceramics of dental use.
