Glass has been used in widespread applications within several sectors since ancient times and it has been systematically studied under different perspectives. However, its thermodynamic properties and the variety of its compositions, several aspects related to its durability and its alteration mechanisms remain still open to debate. This literature review presents an overview of the most relevant studies on glass corrosion and the interaction between glass and the environment. The review aims to achieve two objectives. On one hand, it aims to highlight how far research on glass corrosion has come by studying model systems created in the laboratory to simulate different alteration conditions and glass compositions. On the other, it seeks to point out what are the critical aspects that still need to be investigated and how the study of ancient, altered glass can add to the results obtained in laboratory models. The review intends also to demonstrate how advanced analytical techniques commonly used to study modern and technical glass can be applied to investigate corrosion marks on ancient samples.

Ancient glass objects typically show distinctive effects of deterioration as a result of environmentally induced physicochemical transformations of their surface over time. Iridescence is one of the distinctive signatures of aging that is most commonly found on excavated glass. In this work, we present an ancient glass fragment that exhibits structural color through surface weathering resulting in iridescent patinas caused by silica reprecipitation in nanoscale lamellae. This archaeological artifact reveals an unusual hierarchically assembled photonic crystal with extremely ordered nanoscale domains, high spectral selectivity, and reflectivity (~90%), that collectively behaves like a gold mirror. Optical characterization paired with nanoscale elemental analysis further underscores the high quality of this structure providing a window into this sophisticated natural photonic crystal assembled by time.

This research combines 3D and surface methods on corroded glass, shedding light on perfectly preserved alteration structures and corrosion processes across scales.

Optimizing the LA-ICP-MS procedure to obtain 2D and 3D high-resolution multi-elemental imaging of heavily degraded Roman glass for studying glass weathering mechanisms by monitoring the lateral and in-depth distribution of elements.

This study explores the three‐dimensional structure of Roman glass through the combined use of laboratory and phase‐contrast synchrotron x‐ray micro–computed tomography. This original approach validates a noninvasive analytical procedure designed to enhance the understanding of glass degradation mechanisms, crucial for the preservation of historical artefacts. The high‐resolution images obtained reveal the intricate internal structure and morphology of various forms of glass deterioration, including cracking, pitting, and the formation of multilayered iridescent patinas. The research provides compelling evidence of corrosion processes and interaction mechanisms with burial soil, shedding light on the chemical and physical interactions that occur over centuries. By characterizing and examining the long‐term alteration of ancient glass, this work contributes to the field of archaeometry, offering insights into how different types of glass withstand the test of time in diverse environmental conditions. The findings have important implications for conservation strategies, enabling better preservation techniques for glass artefacts.