Provided is a small-diameter chalcogenide glass material having excellent weather resistance and mechanical strength and being suitable as an optical element for an infrared sensor. The chalcogenide glass material has an unpolished side surface, a pillar shape with a diameter of 15 mm or less, and a composition of, in terms of % by mole, 40 to 90% S+Se+Te and an inside of the glass material is free of stria with a length of 500 μm or more.

Glass articles including one or more 3D printed surface features attached to a surface of a substrate at a contact interface between the 3D printed surface feature and the surface. The 3D printed surface feature(s) include a glass or a glass-ceramic, a compressive stress region at an exterior perimeter surface of the 3D printed surface feature(s), and a central tension region interior of the compressive stress region. The 3D printed surface feature(s) may be formed of a contiguous preformed material 3D printed on a surface of a substrate. The compressive stress region of a 3D printed surface feature may be formed using an ion-exchange process.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A composite has repeating domains of an inorganic glass and a polymer, such that the inorganic glass and the polymer each have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) or softening temperature of less than 450° C., and at least 50% of the inorganic glass domains have a length of less than 30 μm as measured along at least one cross-sectional dimension.

A molding apparatus for forming a glass article comprises a mold shell comprising a cooling surface comprising at least a first zone and a second zone; an adjustable nozzle system comprising a mold-facing surface having a plurality of apertures sized to receive a nozzle or a plug; a plurality of nozzles, each coupled to one of the apertures to direct a stream of fluid onto the cooling surface; and a fluid supply providing a fluid through the plurality of nozzles. The fluid is jetted through the nozzles to impinge against the first zone or the second zone of the cooling surface, and a number of nozzles through which the fluid is jetted to impinge against the first zone of the cooling surface is different than a number of nozzles through which the fluid is jetted to impinge against the second zone of the cooling surface.

Manufacturing methods for making a substantially rectangular and flat glass preform for manufacturing a Li ion conducting glass separator can involve drawing the preform to a thin sheet and may involve one or more of slumping, rolling or casting the glass within a frame that defines a space filling region and therewith the shape and size of the preform. The thickness of the rectangular flat preform so formed may be about 2 mm or less. The frame may be slotted having a back surface and widthwise wall portion that define the height and width of the space filling region. The flat backing surface and surfaces of the widthwise wall portions are defined may be coated by a material that is inert in direct contact with the heated glass material, such as gold.

Manufacturing methods for making a substantially rectangular and flat glass preform for manufacturing a Li ion conducting glass separator can involve drawing the preform to a thin sheet and may involve one or more of slumping, rolling or casting the glass within a frame that defines a space filling region and therewith the shape and size of the preform. The thickness of the rectangular flat preform so formed may be about 2 mm or less. The frame may be slotted having a back surface and widthwise wall portion that define the height and width of the space filling region. The flat backing surface and surfaces of the widthwise wall portions are defined may be coated by a material that is inert in direct contact with the heated glass material, such as gold.

In a method of making pixelated scintillators, an amorphous scintillator material in a molten state is pressed into a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of walls of a mesh array. The molten scintillator material in the plurality of cavities is cooled to form a pixelated scintillator array. An x-ray imager including a pixelated scintillator is also described.

In a method of making pixelated scintillators, an amorphous scintillator material in a molten state is pressed into a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of walls of a mesh array. The molten scintillator material in the plurality of cavities is cooled to form a pixelated scintillator array. An x-ray imager including a pixelated scintillator is also described.