Relation Between Inelastic Deformability and Thermal Expansion of Glass in Its Annealing Range*

A bstract In accordance with experience concerning the behavior of glass at temperatures within its annealing range, an equation is proposed which relates the various extraordinary heat effects to the inelastic deformability and to the degree of superheating or undercooling. By using this equation in connection with the thermal‐expansion curves of a glass within its annealing range, certain constants that are related to the coefficient of viscosity and its changes with temperature and the degree of superheating or undercooling have been determined with reasonable results. Such results make it possible to estimate the inelastic deformability of a glass in its various conditions at all annealing temperatures and are therefore valuable in connection with problems that are encountered in the process of annealing glass. The apparent success achieved in applying the proposed equation to experimental data suggests that the concepts underlying this equation are fundamental and must be considered in any theory concerning the constitution of glass or that of any other extremely viscous liquid.