11 Amorphous Solid Examples: Facts You Should Know

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Amorphous solids are solid where constituents of particles are not arranged in atomic dimensions with regular 3-D patterns. Let us discuss an example of an amorphous solid below.

A list of amorphous solid examples is given below. 

  1. Glass
  2. Elastic
  3. Pitch
  4. Quartz
  5. Plastics
  6. Thin-film lubricants
  7. Rubber
  8. Polymers
  9. Wax
  10. Fused silica
  11. Metallic glass
  12. Gel

Glass

Glass is an illustration of an amorphous solid. The most common method for making glass is by quickly quenching the molten form of an amorphous solid. Glass is utilised in numerous optics and technological applications.

Elastic

Elastic is called the ability to tolerate straining deformity. Elastic is an example of an amorphous solid that contains millions of long-chain polymer molecules. Make up the elastic polymer with the quality of intertwining them.

Pitch

Pitch is the dark-brown or black residue left behind after distilling oils, essential fats, or natural oils. A common amorphous solid made of coal tar and coal stuff is pitch. Tar, bitumen, and asphalt are other names for different types of pitch.

Quartz

Quartz glass will be shaped like amorphous solid examples and not be placed regularly by chilling the substance and fusing the material. Due to the amorphous solid nature of quartz, no regular arrangement can be expected. It is created by fusing the substance and then cooling it. 

Plastics

Plastics are made up of organic polymers with a high molecular weight and different components. They are likewise comprised of silicon atoms and are known as silicone and carbon, respectively.

Thin-film lubricants

Thin film lubrication is known for extended boundary lubrication. It is a lubrication environment within a film that contains a thickness ranging from a few nanometers to tens of nanometers. 

Rubber

Rubber is an amorphous solid example depending on its source,  and its elasticity of nature rubber can be either obtained from nature or organically produced. They can also be chemically produced in the laboratory and are known as synthetic materials, including silicone rubber, neoprene, etc.

Polymers

A polymer is a substance or amorphous solid that consisting a large number of units and these are repeated at regular intervals. Polymers are mainly composed of monomeric units of a large number of macromolecules.

Wax

Wax is often a lengthy aliphatic alkyl chain in an amorphous solid. The typical chemical formula of wax is CnH2n+2. Polishing, water resistance, antifouling, mould release, and dispersion are all accomplished by wax.

Fused silica

Fused silica is an amorphous silicate solid that is also called non-crystalline silica or fused quartz. Fused silica is a type of glass that is almost entirely composed of silicone dioxide(Sio2) and has a high temperature and low thermal expansion coefficient.

Metallic glass

Metallic glass is amorphous glass that has metallic qualities due to the random arrangement of its atoms in 3-D. A solid material created from a liquid that doesn’t crystallise when it cools is called metallic glass. Metallic glass is practical since it is durable, pliable, and corrosion-resistant.

Gel

A gel is a sol that occurs when the solids are intermixed to produce a mixture that is hard or quasi-rigid. A gel becomes sticky and behaves like a solid in its steady state due to cross-linking within the gel’s polymer or colloidal network.

Frequently Asked Question(FAQ)

How are Amorphous solids recognised? 

Amorphous solids are non-crystalline solids with irregular patterns. Let’s examine some recognisable properties.

Amorphous solids come in a variety of forms with various characteristics. When cleaved or broken, they produce fragments with irregular, frequently curved surfaces and, since their sections are not regularly clustered, they show poorly defined patterns in x-rays.

How are Amorphous solids created?

Amorphous solids are one of the types of Solid chemistry. Let’s examine several amorphous solid transitions and creations.

Amorphous solid molecules are created by the regular rearrangement of atoms into a highly crystalline solid. They gradually reorganise glass and other materials, if kept over a long time duration at a given particular temperature and converted slightly below their melting point.

Conclusion

Amorphous solids are solid where constituents of particles are not arranged in atomic dimensions with regular 3-D patterns. Rubber is an elastic material that can be produced artificially or organically. Synthetic amorphous solids include silicone rubber, neoprene, etc