Vitrification

Vitrification (Latin vitrum "glass" ) is the solidification of a liquid by increasing its viscosity, while it is cooled - whereby crystallization is absent and thus produced an amorphous material. This is achieved by extremely rapid cooling (eg in liquid nitrogen ) in combination with additives that prevent crystallization (so-called cryoprotectants ).

Applications

• In the manufacture of glass, the melt is cooled sufficiently rapidly to prevent crystallization.
• In the Cryobiotechnology and cryonics

Comments

Vitrification was used by Stanisław Lem in his utopian novel fiasco as a dramaturgical concept.