Metallic Glass: A Crystal at Heart (IMAGE)
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Scientists recently used a diamond anvil like this one to squeeze tiny samples of metallic glass. Under very high pressure, the samples switched from their amorphous, glassy state to form a single crystal -- the first time this behavior has been seen in a glass. The discovery. published in the June 17 issue of Science, could help scientists design better metallic glasses, which are widely used in power transformers, anti-theft tags and other products, and it may help explain why these materials are so tough.
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Image courtesy Brad Plummer/SLAC.
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