Polymer glasses and oxide glasses

The similarities and differences in the structure of polymer glasses and oxide glasses are reviewed, together with models suggested to describe structure on various scales. It is suggested that random array models seem to provide the best description of structure for most glasses of both types of materials. Also considered are the crystallization and viscous flow behavior of both classes of materials, together with the implications of the observed behavior for their formation as amorphous solids. The role of the chain character of polymer liquids in affecting their kinetic behavior is considered, as are recent controversies concerning the microstructure of partly-crystallized polymers.