The cooperative movement of atoms protects the glass from fracture

We’ve all experienced the moment of panic when a glass slips from our hands and shatters into pieces as it hits the floor. What if this common mishap could become a thing of the past?

Now, a new discovery by Tohoku University researchers has shed new light on how glass resists breakage, potentially paving the way for highly durable and unbreakable materials. This breakthrough has broad implications for glass-related industries.

Details of their findings are published in the journal Material acts.

“Glass, although strong, tends to break when the stress exceeds its tolerance, but interestingly the movement of atoms and molecules inside the glass can release the internal stress, making the material more resistant to fractures”, emphasizes Makina Saito, associate professor at Tohoku University Graduate School of Science. “Although we know that some atoms ‘jump’ into nearby empty spaces, how this process alleviates stress has long been a mystery.”

Saito and his colleagues, including researchers from Kyoto University, Shimane University, the National Institute of Materials Science and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, discovered a mechanism until then unknown stress relaxation in ionic glass, a model glass system.

Their research used cutting-edge synchrotron radiation experiments and computer simulations to observe atomic movements in glass on a nanosecond to microsecond time scale.

The team discovered that when some atoms inside the glass “jump” into nearby empty spaces, the surrounding groups of atoms slowly move to fill the gap. This interaction of atomic jumps and collective movements reduces internal stresses, thereby protecting the glass from breakage under the influence of an external force.

“Our results have considerable implications for sectors such as consumer electronics, construction and automobile manufacturing, where shatterproof glass is essential,” adds Saito.

Looking ahead, the research team plans to explore whether similar atomic mechanisms work in other types of glass. Their ultimate goal is to establish universal guidelines for designing lenses with superior impact resistance, which could revolutionize applications requiring durable materials.