11. Amorphization methods

There are numerous methods for obtaining an amorphous state, and several possible choices for classifying these methods. We could, for example, divide them according to the initial state of the compound to be amorphized: gaseous, liquid or crystalline. Here, we will classify them according to the fundamental physical mechanisms involved. There are three main methods of amorphization (figure 30 ):

• A thermal process which involves cooling a compound or solution from its liquid (molten) state fairly rapidly, avoiding crystallization (figure