There are two types of edge defects common to glass knives as typically prepared for microtomy purposes: 1) striations and 2) edge chipping. The former is a function of the free breaking process while edge chipping results from usage or bumping of the edge. Because glass has no well defined planes in its structure, it should be highly resistant to plastic deformation of any sort, including tensile loading. In practice, prevention of microscopic surface flaws is impossible. The surface flaws produce stress concentrations so that tensile strengths in glass are typically 10-20 kpsi and vary only slightly with composition. If glass can be kept in compression, wherein failure is literally unknown (1), it will remain intact for long periods of time. Forces acting on the tool in microtomy produce a resultant force that acts to keep the edge in compression.
