Glaskrom

Glaskrom is a term used in materials science and design to describe a class of transparent, glass-ceramic materials that combine the optical properties of glass with crystalline inclusions containing chromium or chromium-derived color centers. The name blends glass with chrome and is used in both industrial and artistic contexts to refer to a family of chromium-doped glass-ceramics.

Glaskrom materials typically consist of a silica- or borosilicate-based glass matrix in which nanoscale or micro-scale crystalline phases are dispersed. Dopants such as chromium oxide (Cr2O3) or chromium-doped nanocrystals create color and modify optical transmission. The crystalline phases can be tailored by controlled heat treatment to adjust refractive index, hardness, and thermal expansion.

They exhibit high transparency in the visible and near-infrared, tunable coloration (green to amber), good chemical durability, and improved scratch resistance relative to conventional glasses, while retaining some glass-like brittleness. Thermal expansion can be engineered to match substrates used in optics.

Manufacturing often involves shaping the base glass, adding dopants, and then applying a controlled heat-treatment schedule to induce crystallization (glass-ceramic processing). Alternative routes include sol-gel synthesis or chemical vapor deposition for thin films or coatings.

Glaskrom finds use in optical windows, display interfaces, decorative glazing, and specialty filters where color control and optical performance are important. Some designs exploit its color-tone stability under UV exposure.

See also: Glass-ceramics, chromium-doped glass, transparent ceramics.