glass transition

The glass transition is a phenomenon in materials science where an amorphous solid, like glass, transitions between a hard, brittle state and a more pliable, rubbery state. This occurs over a temperature range known as the glass transition range, rather than at a single, sharp melting point like crystalline solids.12

When a liquid is cooled rapidly, it can bypass crystallization and solidify into an amorphous solid, or glass. The temperature at which this transition happens is called the glass transition temperature ((T_g)). Below (T_g), glass behaves as a solid, while above it, it becomes a supercooled liquid that can be molded and shaped. The specific (T_g) varies greatly depending on the material's chemical composition and bonding type. For instance, silicon dioxide has a (T_g) of 1,430 K, while water has a (T_g) of 140 K.234