| abstract |
A particle dispersed glassy material includes ultrafine metal particles that are present in a high concentration. The particles are surrounded by a fixation component and, optionally, can be surrounded by a skeleton forming component. The glassy material is produced by firing a substrate having a film thereon that includes a polymer composite having the ultrafine particles uniformly dispersed therein, a fixation reagent and, optionally, a skeleton forming reagent under relatively mild conditions that do not damage the substrate. A method of making the glassy material includes the steps of making a film-forming composition that includes the polymer composite, the fixation reagent and, optionally, the skeleton forming reagent, applying the composition to a substrate, drying the applied composition to produce a film and firing the film to produce the glassy material. |