Impact of network topology on the thermal and mechanical properties of lithium germanate glasses

Abstract In this work, we study the structure–topology–property relations of a series melt‐quenched lithium germanate glasses. These glasses exhibit so‐called anomaly, that is, germanium atoms feature distribution four‐coordinated and higher coordinated species, manifesting itself as anomalies in several material properties. Here, couple variations number atomic bond constraints with measured thermal mechanical properties, including conductivity, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness. For strong correlation is found sound velocity well volumetric constraint density. good density found, whereas, for toughness, network topology alone are insufficient to explain composition–property relation. To account this, apply recent model which incorporates knowledge local structure, patterns predict showing qualitative agreement experimental data.