The Durability Of Glass - A Review

The attempts to understand the durability of glass are reviewed from the earliest studies in 1666, through the historical phases up to about 1960, followed by a summary of the recent investigations of the reactions that take place in the surface layers. Methods of assessing the durability are reviewed from 1830. The environment in which it is held are discussed with special reference to predicting the durability. Final sections are concerned with the recently discovered effects of surface damage and the problems of using glass as an encapsulating medium for the disposal of high level radioactive waste.