Network modifiers in glass system: A Tribute to all who made me what I am today

Dear Friends,

This article is based on my understanding  on the modifiers and the way how our formed network changes. As these modifiers possess higher coordination number and lower valency as discussed in article 50, where we know the rules for glass formers in oxide glasses, I wish to correlate this concept with the methods for survival in this inferior society. The role of glass formers are really idealistic one. We can never be so pure/ in other words, the world doesn’t accept ideals, they need someone who can dance to their tunes. The one who makes you dance and the way how we look at the transparency dance to attain its stability is because of these modifiers. Glass as we know it is an amorphous solid with 3D network. This network has to be broken, that can be done by modification, that responsibility is taken care by network modifiers. I wish to list few interesting correlation on these modifiers on how they break our virtuousness.

 The above periodic table indicates modifiers, Formers and intermediates in Glass system, it is interesting to know the family tree of glasses.  This pictorial representation was done by my student Rojashree.

#1: When you let a modifier (alkali atom), it occupies in interstitial sites and creates non bridging oxides.

For example, let me call network formers are those who trust and rely lot on us as you follow the rules of being transparent and ethical in all terms. The morality might differ from each individuals, they can be understood over a period of time and things can be sorted out easily. Now, if the drift is settled between some other individuals, things are going to be worse. As we know, he/she who tries to resolve problem, will try to occupy upper hand and that would really be damaging for two individuals who trust each other a lot. That trust is broken because you have brought some joker/modifier inside to resolve the issue/ to stabilize the relationship. This will really close some areas to explore between two individuals. But the motto to maintain stability is achieved.

The pic indicates how network modifier takes stand in maintaining the stability of network 

#2: Just because they are in, their mobility has to be less, higher ones will incur conduction losses.

Just as I said, the one who has resolved the issues should not be mobile in nature, if he is mobile, then it reduces the transport properties/ in other words, we get distressed because we have attained a stage like enough is enough, the material/device will be in full conduction. The same happens even in relaxation loss. These things make glass to explore arenas of conducting glasses, Lithium ion based glasses plays prominent role in this field. As Lithium itself act as network modifier, as this small little notorious fellow is highly active and mobile in nature. It is often observed, when husband and wife fights, the kids act make them stable. The role of modifier can be understood like this too. Sometimes, people choose higher guys to keep them stable. It is often known that average age of a home reduces the moment an infant/kid is in, the growth of kid is reflected on mental stability of elders.   That is how the life is all about..

This pic explains the occupancy of alkali network modifier in silicate glass

If just two points on modifying cation in glass gives us spectra of thoughts, imagine the world and the state of glass system

The opportunity for good system: If it has all the three qualities, control , transparency and stability.  To achieve this, we need network modifiers.

The world of Network modifiers in life is extremely important to enhance the glass stability.

The game of glass system is also based on intermediates, these set of people are interesting, as they take up positions of being part of former as well as modifier just like Parents, Siblings, Best Friend Forever (BFF), Spouse. There are several modifiers in our life, they may be teachers, friends, kids, a motivating renowned person/celebrity or at times even a stranger whom we meet in life can correct the transparency what we got, at times we must make use of these modifiers to build an efficient glass system/ life system which is as transparent and complicated like glass. The world seems to be really dangerous, but the stability of glass is always higher because it knows how to handle it. There is limit for these modifiers when it comes to intelligent Borate Glass System. This part is interesting one to discuss, I would like to share it after four articles as I wish to dedicate this article to all my network modifiers who made me stronger and stable materialistic human being.