Devitrification
Devitrification is the process of
Devitrification in glass art
Devitrification occurs in
Causes of devitrification, commonly referred to as "devit", can include holding a high temperature for too long, which causes the nucleation of crystals. The presence of foreign residue such as dust on the surface of the glass or inside the kiln prior to firing can provide nucleation points where crystals can propagate easily. The chemical compositions of some types of glass can make them more vulnerable to devitrification than others, for example a high
Techniques for avoiding devitrification include cleaning the glass surfaces of dust or unwanted residue, and allowing rapid cooling once the piece reaches the desired temperature, until the temperature approaches the annealing temperature. Devit spray can be purchased to apply to the surfaces of the glass pieces prior to firing which is supposed to help prevent devitrification, however there is disagreement over the long term effectiveness of this solution and whether it should be used as a substitute for proper firing techniques.[citation needed]
Once devit has occurred, there are techniques that can be attempted to fix it, with varying degrees of success. One technique is to cover the surface with a sheet of clear glass and refiring. Since devitrification can change the
Devitrification in geology
In a general sense, any crystallization from a
The process of conversion of glass material to crystallized material is known as devitrification.
Glass wool
Devitrification can occur in
References
- ISBN 3-540-57572-3
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