TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The composition (C1) comprises (wt.% of the total composition): SiO2 (70.6-73.55); Al2O3 (10.68-18.5); MgO (10-15.62); CaO (0.1-1.7); Li2O (0.08-3.0) and Na2O (0-3.0); or SiO2 (70.6-73); Al2O3 (16-18.5); MgO (10-13); CaO (0.1-2); Li2O (0-2) and Na2O (0-2); or SiO2 (70.85-77.56); Al2O3 (10-18.5); MgO (10-12.58); CaO (0.1-1.7); Li2O (0-2.34) and Na2O (0-0.98); or SiO2 (70.6-77.56); Al2O3 (10-18.5); MgO (10-12.95); CaO (0.1-1.7); Li2O (0.08-3.0) and Na2O (0-0.98). The components of the composition are melted in refractory tank melter.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The polymer matrix is thermoplastic polymer selected from polyesters, polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate and/or polybutylene. The polymer matrix is thermoset polymer selected from epoxy resins, unsaturated polyesters, phenolics and/or vinylesters. EXAMPLE - A high performance glass composition comprising (wt.%): SiO2 (72.84), Al2O3 (12.11), MgO (12.24), CaO (1.32), Li2O (0.75), and Na2O (0.75) was prepared. The raw materials were melted in a platinum crucible in an electrically heated furnace at a temperature of 1650 degrees C for 3 hours. The forming viscosity (i.e. the temperature that corresponded to a viscosity of about 1000 Poise) was measured using a rotating cylinder method (ASTM C965-96 (2007)). The liquidus temperature was measured by exposing glass to temperature gradient in a platinum-alloy boat for 16 hours (ASTM C829-81(2005)). To make glass fibers for testing modulus and strength, cullet from glass composition was added to an electrically resistance bushing and pulled from single tip at bottom of bushing. The fibers were wound onto rotating drum, but samples for testing were collected from fiber between tip of bushing and winder. These lengths of fiber, approximately 2 meters in length were placed on forks or sample boards where length to be tested did not come in contact with anything but the ambient atmosphere. The fibers were then mounted and tested using the appropriate equipment. The composition showed forming viscosity of 1468 degrees C; liquidus temperature of 1406 degrees C; density of 2.444 g/cc; modulus of 85.4 GPa; strength of 4994 MPa; specific modulus of 3.49x 107 J/kg and specific strength of 2.04x 106 J/kg respectively.