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The effect of spherulitic crystallization on the elastic moduli and fracture toughness of a barium aluminum silicate glass was investigated. The crystallization process results in Ba2Si3O8 phase and is initiated from Ba rich nuclei. Nucleation is optimal in the 690-720 °C interval. Young's modulus is increased by 12.5% when the glass-ceramic conversion is nearly complete. Nevertheless, as the size and the volume fraction of crystals are increased, some microcracking shows up upon cooling from the crystallization temperature. An optimal improvement of the fracture toughness (SEPB method) by 27 % is observed for a 49 % volume fraction of 5 to 10 m large spherulites.

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A transparent composite material consisting of a soda-lime-silicate glass matrix containing up to 0.5 % w gold nanoparticles (10 to 20 nm) was successfully obtained by coating glass grains and a subsequent sintering using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) furnace. Coating was achieved thanks to the reduction of gold(III) chloride trihydrate by sodium borohydride in an ethanol solution. The sintered composites were dense and transparent, but for the largest gold content where the sample exhibits a deep red color. When submitted to laser irradiation (532 nm, up to 100 W/cm²), the composite experiences a fast, localized and much more significant increase of its temperature in comparison with the pristine glass material. A temperature as high as 550 °C was reached, allowing the healing of surface crack.