Fabrication and thermal shaping of transparent glass

A method of manufacturing a transparent glass article, the manufacturing method comprising the following steps (a) to (f):

• (a) providing a nanocomposite comprising an organic thermoplastic binder matrix and glass particles dispersed therein, the organic thermoplastic binder matrix being solid at room temperature;
• wherein the glass particles comprise spherical glass particles having a diameter ranging from 5 nm to 400 nm;
• wherein the nanocomposite further comprises at least one phase-forming agent dispersed in the organic thermoplastic binder matrix and does not include a solvent, and wherein the phase-forming agent is solid or viscous at room temperature and forms an internal phase in the organic thermoplastic binder matrix;
• (b) subjecting the nanocomposite to an external stimulus, thereby rendering the nanocomposite remoldable;
• (c) remolding the nanocomposite into a predetermined shape using a replication process, thereby obtaining a primary structure;
• (d) debinding the primary structure by removing the organic thermoplastic binder matrix, thereby obtaining a secondary structure, the secondary structure having cavities formed therein;
• (e) optionally filling the cavities of the secondary structure with at least one additive;
• and
• (f) sintering the secondary structure, thereby obtaining the transparent glass article, wherein the thickness of the transparent glass article is 1.0 mm or more, and the optical transmission of the transparent glass article is more than 70% at a wavelength ranging from 200 nm to 1000 nm for a layer thickness of 1.0 mm, and the Vickers hardness of the transparent glass article is more than 700 HV as measured in accordance with DIN EN ISO 6507.