6. Conclusion

This article has given the reader an insight into the diversity of properties and applications of glass-ceramics. Although these materials are relatively recent, a wide variety of compositions have been developed, thanks in particular to improved understanding of nucleation and growth mechanisms. It is now possible to precisely control the microstructure of crystalline phases in many glass matrices, and thus the properties induced in glass-ceramics.

Significant improvements in these properties compared to glass, ceramics and single crystals have been demonstrated in a number of fields, including consumer products (cookware), technical applications (machinable glass-ceramics), optical materials (luminophores) and medical materials (dental prostheses). These advances have led to the marketing of new products, some of which are now mass-marketed.

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