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Glass ceramics are glassy materials that undergo a degree of crystallization within their normally random atomic structure. This process involves generating a high density of uniformly sized crystals throughout the material, which significantly enhances their strength beyond that of the original glass or comparable ceramics.1

The production of glass ceramics typically involves two main steps:
* Nucleation: A high density of crystalline nuclei is created in the glass melt, either through a droplet phase-separation mechanism or by adding nucleating agents like titania, zirconia, or phosphorus pentoxide.2
* Crystal Growth: After nucleation, the crystals are allowed to grow to maturity at an elevated temperature.2

Commercially successful glass ceramics are known for their exceptional strength, with notable examples including Corning Ware cooking vessels and Dicor dental implants.1

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