Glass stabilization technology

Plasma processing technologies ate used for surface treatments and coatings for plastics, elastomers, glasses, metals, ceramics, etc. Such treatments provide better wear characteristics, thermal stability, color, controlled electrical properties, lubricity, abrasion resistance, barrier properties, adhesion promotion, wettability, blood compatibility, and controlled light transmissivity. 

Hornsby, P. R. (1980). Dimensional stability of glass-ionomer cements. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 30, 595-601. 

The successful production of a nonleachable glass waste form from mixed low-level waste allows land disposal of the waste at a lower cost than the baseline technology (cementation) if it were used to stabilize the waste. This savings is primarily due to the large waste volume reductions realized during vitrification. In addition, glass final waste forms have been shown to have decreased teachability and increased structural stability as compared to the baseline waste form. 

In recent years, specific requirements with regard to shelf-life stability and tailor-made release behaviour led to the development of a range of specific encapsulation technologies such as glass-encapsulated flavours or seamless capsules with liquid cores. 

Commercial applications have been identified primarily in the electronics industry where requirements for dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and high temperature resistance make these systems attractive in advanced circuit board technology. Other commercial applications include high temperature membranes and filters where these materials offer performance improvements over glass, Kevlar, and graphite composites. Industrial development of these types of materials will most likely be dependent on monomer cost and advances in various product properties requirements. 

---