Gutzow I.S., Schmelzer J.W.P. The Vitreous State. Thermodynamics, Structure, Rheology, and Crystallization

Second Edition - Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2013. — 553 p.The book is devoted to problems of a physically very important state of condensed matter - the vitreous state. The authors tried to summarize the experimental evidence and the different theoretical approaches - structural, thermodynamic, and those of statistical physics Ц connected with the formation, the kinetic stability, and with the general nature of glasses as a particular physical state. In addition, a summary is given on the information available concerning processes of nucleation and crystallization of glass-forming systems; on methods of preventing or, in contrast, catalyzing crystallization in vitrifying liquids; on the kinetics of nucleation; on the modes of crystal growth in undercooled melts; and on the devitrification of glasses. The authors' aim was to summarize the basic principles and the most significant developments of a newly emerging science - glass science - and to show that, at least, in principle, any substance can exist in the vitreous state. It is demonstrated that the characteristic properties of the vitreous state may be attributed under certain conditions not only to systems with an amorphous structure (like the common glasses) but also to a number of other states of condensed matter including the crystalline one.States of aggregation, thermodynamic phases, phase transformations, and the vitreous state
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and the kinetics of glass transition and stabilization
General approaches to the description of the structure of glasses
Statistical physics of under-cooled melts and glasses
Kinetics of crystallization and segregation: nucleation in glass-forming systems
Catalyzed crystallization of glass-forming melts
Theory of crystal growth and dissolution in under-cooled melts: Basic approaches
Growth of clusters and of ensembles of clusters: Ostwald ъipening and Ostwald's rule of stages
Kinetics of overall crystallization: Kinetic criteria for glass-formation
Liquid phase separation in glass-formingmelts
Rheology of glass-forming melts
Concluding remarks
Brief overview on some new developments