Nanotechnology Now Home > Press > Scientists observe role of cavitation in glass fracturing Fig. 1. Observation of the cavitation-dominated crack propagation in a metallic glass. CREDIT Institute of Physics Abstract: Glassy materials play an integral role in the modern world, but inherent brittleness has long been the Achilles' heel that severely limits their usefulness. Due to the disordered amorphous structure of glassy materials, many mysteries remain. These include the fracture mechanisms of traditional glasses, such as silicate glasses, as well as the origin of the intriguing patterned fracture morphologies of metallic glasses. Scientists observe role of cavitation in glass fracturing Beijing, China | Posted on April 2nd, 2021