Ion Mobility And Structural Relaxation In Glass

A dynamic structural model is described where ions in glass are mobile and are yet part of the glass structure. The model introduces the concepts of memory, mismatch energy, and fluctuating pathways. Condctivity variations in single and mixed-cation glasses have previously been rationalised on this basis. Examined here are some wider implications relative to EXAFS results, internal friction peaks, and the effect which restricted ionic mobility has on the strength/fragility of glass-forming systems.