Structure and Properties of Nanoglasses

Nanoglasses represent a novel structural modification of amorphous materials, exhibiting properties and structural details that are markedly different from those observed in metallic glasses prepared by rapid quenching. In this review, the synthesis method and the techniques used for charactering the structure of nanoglasses are described together with our current understanding of their salient microstructural features. It is believed that the structure of nanoglasses consists of two distinct amorphous regions give rise to mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties that are significantly different from those observed in rapidly quenched (RQ) metallic glasses. Nanoglasses, therefore, constitute a distinct new class of amorphous materials and thus opening up new opportunities for their potential use in a number of structural and functional applications. Nanoglasses constitute a distinct new class of amorphous materials exhibiting a range of novel properties, not present in metallic glasses prepared by rapid quenching. Nanoglasses exhibit internal structural features on the length scale of a few nanometers, and therefore their microstructure can be tailored which opens up the opportunity for their potential use as structural and functional materials.