Functional glasses and glass-ceramics perform specific functions that are used to accomplish specific application needs or intelligent actions, according to the author. This book covers a wide range of materials synthesis, property evaluation, and applications for functional glasses and glass-ceramics and is organized into three main parts.

The first part of the book is an introduction to functional glasses and glass-ceramics. In sequence, chapter by chapter, a detailed description is provided for several glass and glass-ceramic systems, specific processing techniques, and applications. The second part of the book is an extensive and detailed description of functionalized oxide glasses and glass-ceramics.

Chapter 1 starts with basic concepts and the structure–property correlation of glasses and glass-ceramics, and ends with the classification of functional glasses and glass-ceramics and the outlook for these materials. Chapter 2 provides theoretical considerations, synthesis, processing, properties, and applications of glasses and glass-ceramics, ranging from three-dimensional transition-metal oxides, including titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper glasses. Rare-earth oxide glasses are described in chapter 3, including praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, and europium containing ones, among others. Chapter 4 describes functional glass-ceramics and their synthesis, processing, and applications. Examples are given for optical, electric, battery, glazes, and ultralow expansion applications. Chapter 5 deals with the functionalization of glasses by laser irradiation, including the modification of refractive index, crystallization, and reduction-oxidation. The functionalization of glasses by incorporation of semiconductors is given in chapter 6. Biomedical applications are described in chapter 7, including bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics (e.g., scaffolds, composites, coatings), antibacterial and drug delivery systems, and ionomer cements. Solid-oxide fuel-cell sealants are presented in chapter 8, including the requirements, classifications, and processing. Chapter 9 discusses glasses and glass-ceramics made from solid waste materials and their processing.

The third part of the book covers non-oxide systems. Chapter 10 describes functional chalcogenide glasses and glass-ceramics. Halide glasses and glass-ceramics are discussed in chapter 11. Finally, chapter 12 covers functional bulk metallic glasses.

Each chapter presents an up-to-date list of references, based on the author’s knowledge and work experience. Figures and tables are vivid and well designed.

This book is recommended for postgraduate students, researchers, educators, scientists, and professionals of the glass industry. It can be used as a basic reference for the study of functional glass materials because it is richly detailed on the fundamentals, synthesis, properties, and applications of glasses and glass-ceramics.

Reviewer: Adriano Michael Bernardin is a professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Graduation Program, University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina, Brazil.