glassy materials

Glassy materials are substances that are solid but lack a regular, repeating atomic structure like crystals. Instead, their atoms are arranged in a disordered, fluid-like way, similar to liquids, but they are rigid. This amorphous arrangement gives glassy materials unique properties, such as transparency and hardness. Common examples include window glass and certain plastics. Unlike crystalline solids, glasses don’t have a defined melting point; instead, they soften over a temperature range. Their structure results from rapid cooling that prevents atoms from forming an ordered pattern, trapping them in a disorganized state.