non-crystalline
Lacking ordered arrangement
Non-crystalline describes solid materials whose atoms or molecules lack the ordered, repeating structure found in crystals.
Glass is the most familiar example—its molecules are arranged randomly, like a liquid frozen in place.
Also called amorphous.
The non-crystalline structure makes the material shatter unpredictably.
Without distinct shape
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- plasticCapable of being molded
- gelWobbly semi-solid substance
resin · rubber · silica · obsidian · pitch · wax · tar · vitreous
Lacking systematic arrangement
- randomOccurring without pattern
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- isotropicSame properties all directions
- homogeneousAlike in composition throughout
supercooled · metastable · network · continuous · unstructured · diffuse · formless · chaotic
Transformation into glass
- viscosityFluid's flow resistance
- meltChange from solid
- quenchingRapid cooling process
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
phase · solidification · undercooled · nucleation · entropy · thermodynamic · kinetic · spectroscopy
amorphous
Without distinct shape
gel · resin · rubber · silica · obsidian · pitch · wax · tar · vitreous · acrylic
disordered
Lacking systematic arrangement
- randomOccurring without pattern
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- isotropicSame properties all directions
homogeneous · supercooled · metastable · network · continuous · unstructured · diffuse · formless · chaotic · jumbled
vitrification
Transformation into glass
annealing · phase · solidification · undercooled · nucleation · entropy · thermodynamic · kinetic · spectroscopy
non-crystallinecrystalline
Clear, ordered, brilliant
crystal · crystallized · polycrystalline · monocrystalline · microcrystalline
non-crystallinestructured
Arranged in organized form
ordered · organized · regular · systematic · patterned
non, crystal, crystalline, crystals, crystallize, crystallized, crystallization, crystallography, crystallographer