Perspectives on the History of Glass Composition

The 100th anniversary of The American Ceramic Society corresponds approximately with the 100th anniversary of what might be considered the start of the age of glass science, i.e., the publication, in Germany, in 1886, of the catalog of Schott und Genossen, containing 44 optical glass compositions. The American Ceramic Society centennial seems, accordingly, to be an appropriate occasion to examine the history of glass composition that both preceded and followed the seminal work of Schott and to survey some of the major discoveries and changes in glass composition as well as the reasons that led to them. Although it is certainly of interest to consider a more complete history of the glass industry, we have opted to attempt the more modest task just described. The history of glass structure theories is considered, particularly with regard to the effects of composition on structure, and how these relate to glass properties. The article then continues with a discussion of recent special glasses and concludes with a description of lightguide glasses, the discovery of which has changed the nature of glass science and the glass industry.