Vitrification

Vitrification is a process of converting a material into a glass-like amorphous solid which is free from any crystalline structure, either by the quick cooling or by the addition of additives. Avoidance of crystallization leads to the formation of a metastable glassy state. The word originates from the Latin vitreum, meaning "glass". Vitrification is usually achieved by heating materials until they liquidize, then cooling the liquid quickly to avoid the formation of crystals.

Process

The most common commercial application of vitrification is in the production of glass. Vitrification of clay renders pottery vessels impermeable to water. In the nuclear industry, vitrification is a source of treatment of radioactive waste. In medicine, vitrification is used in cryopreservation of human eggs (oocytes), sperm and embryos.

In Medicine

In cryobiology, vitrification is used to store organs, tissues and cells at very low temperatures without damage. This is possible because the extreme speed of the cooling process prevents the formation of ice crystals, as it happens in the traditional freezing process. The vitrification of human eggs has revolutionized the field of Assisted reproductive technology (ART).

In Nuclear Industry

In the nuclear industry, vitrification is a waste treatment technology which includes the mixing of high-level radioactive waste with glass-forming chemicals in a melter to form a stable glass product.

See Also

• Glass transition
• Amorphous solid
• Cryopreservation
• Nuclear waste

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