Effect of pressurization on the fracture toughness of borosilicate glasses

In this study, hot‐compression is applied to two multicomponent borosilicate glasses, Borofloat33 (Boro33) and N‐BK7, using molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of pressure on elastic properties, surface energy, and fracture toughness (KIC)${K_{IC}})$ are investigated. It is found that the impact on KIC${K_{IC}}$ is mainly dominated by the change of Young's modulus under pressure, which is proportional to the relative change in density. Between the two glasses under investigation, KIC${K_{IC}}$ can be improved more effectively by the hot‐compression process for Boro33, due to its higher concentration of 3‐coordinated boron (B3), which facilitates densification via B3 to B4 conversion under compression.