SURFACE STRUCTURE AND SURFACE PROPERTIES OF CRYSTALS AND GLASSES*

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Abstract
Experiments concerning the influence of asymmetrical units on the surface properties of glasses, sponsored by the Mechanics and Materials Branch of the Office of Naval Research, led to a better understanding of the surface structure of crystalline solids A picture is advanced which indicates a close similarity between the atomic structure of the surface layer of a crystal and that of a glass. Common to both are certain characteristic features, namely, the inconstancy of (a) the coordination number, (b) the inter‐nuclear distances, and (c) the bond angles.The difference between the surface structure and the interior of a crystal depends on the polarization properties of the ions A schematic representation of the distribution of bond strength in ideal and real crystals, in glasses, and in surface films brings out the similarity between the surface of crystals and the structure of glasses.Based on this picture, a number of apparently unrelated phenomena are discussed and explained: (1) devitrification of the glass surface, (2) effect of imperfections on the transformation of crystals (silica brick), (3) sinteririg of highly refractory oxides. (4) dielectric constant of polycrystalline materials, and (5) electric absorption of stratified dielectrics

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