GLASS
Brief History of Glass
When glass blowing was first discovered in Europe in the first
century, it completely changed the glass industry and quickly
expanded across the Roman Empire. Cast glass windows can be
found in Rome and Pompeii. Clear glass, made with manganese
dioxide, was utilized in architecture. Glassmaking extended
throughout Europe and the Middle East more than a millennium
ago. Anglo-Saxon glass was used in cathedrals and churches
during the seventh century. By the eleventh century, the crown
glass method, (which involved spinning molten glass to flatten it
into a disk and cutting it into panes) was being used to create
sheet glass. By the thirteenth century, Venice had perfected this
method. From the eleventh through the eighteenth centuries,
stained glass windows with beautiful designs produced by artists
all over the world were utilized in Gothic Renaissance and
baroque buildings. Up until the middle of the 19th century, flat
glass windows were made using the crown glass process. The
float glass process, invented in 1958 by Pilkington and
Bickerstaff, gave sheets a consistent thickness and smooth
surfaces. Float glass is the material used in modern windows.
Production of Glass
Glass production is a complex process that involves a variety of
steps and techniques. A similar set of basic steps is used to make
most glass, even though the specifics of the process can vary
depending on the type of glass being made.
Step 1: Batch mixing - The raw materials needed to make glass
are combined in this first step of the glass production process. In
a sizable batch mixer, materials such as silica sand, soda ash,
limestone, and others are combined.
Step 2: Melting - Following the mixing of the raw materials, they
are melted at temperatures as high as 1700°C in a furnace. The
mixture melts at this high temperature, allowing for the desired
shape to be formed.
Step 3: Forming - Several methods can be used to shape the
melted glass after it has cooled. It can be rolled into sheets, spun
into fibers, or molded into a mold.
Step 4: Annealing - The glass is gradually cooled to room
temperature following shaping, a procedure called annealing.
This lessens the chance that internal stresses will cause the glass
to break or crack.
Step 5: Finishing - The glass is finally finished to give it the
appropriate qualities and features. This could entail coating,
grinding, polishing, or cutting the glass, depending on how it will
be used.
Pilkington process is a crucial process in the production of
glass, which involves the use of large quantities of raw materials
such as clear sand, calcium oxide, and sodium carbonate. These
materials are mixed in the right proportion and admixtures are
added to give the glass desired properties or color. The mixture is
heated in a gas fired furnace, electric smelter, pot furnace, or
kiln, resulting in a homogeneous mixture of molten glass. This
mixture is then floated on molten tin to form the desired
thickness of glass. After the hot end of the process, the glass is
set to cool, which is crucial for its strength and durability. Glass
production requires a significant amount of energy, as one ton of
glass production requires 4 gigajoules of energy, which can be
used to light over 200 homes.
Properties of Glass
Glass's many unique properties make it the ideal material for a wide
range of applications. Among the most notable qualities of glass are
Transparency: Due to glass's translucent or transparent nature, light
can flow through it. This property makes it ideal for use in windows,
lenses, and other optical components.
Image: Michigan State University
Durability: Glass resists heat, chemicals, and other environmental
conditions very well. This feature makes it ideal for usage in a range of
industries, including construction and medical devices.
Image: trends.directindustry.com
Malleability: Due to its ability to be molded and formed into a
multitude of shapes, glass is perfect for usage in a wide range of
products and applications.
Image: Britannica.com
Electrical conductivity: Glass varieties with high electrical
conductivity, like borosilicate glass, are used in electronics and other
industries where this property is essential.
Image: Chemistry-chemist
Thermal insulation: Due to its low heat conductivity, glass is a good
thermal insulator. This feature is useful in double-pane windows and
other applications where heat insulation is important.
Image: Modernize.com
Chemical resistance: Glass is ideal for use in equipment used in
laboratories and other locations where chemical exposure occurs
frequently due to its high degree of resistance to chemical reactions.
Image: Analytice.com
Resistance to scratches: One type of glass that does a great job at
resisting scratches is tempered glass, which is why it's a great option
for phone displays and other applications where scratches might be an
issue.
Common Glass Thickness
3/32″ thickness (2.4 mm)
– used in picture frames, small insulated glass units, not temperable.
1/8″ thickness (3.2 mm)
– small cabinet door panels, insulated units, picture frames and
small table tops.
3/16″ thickness (4.8 mm)
– larger cabinet door panels, single pane window, small mirrors.
1/4″ thickness (6.4 mm)
– all general glass applications, such as table tops (as protective
cover), insulated units, interior & exterior door lites, shelves, framed
shower doors.
3/8″ thickness (9.5 mm)
– framed & frameless shower doors and enclosures, shelves, table
tops, glass walls and partitions.
1/2″ thickness (12.7 mm)
– larger shower doors and enclosures, larger shelves, larger table tops,
countertops, glass walls and partitions, hand railings.
3/4″ thickness (19.1 mm)
– very large table tops, very large shelves, larger countertops, mall
fronts, glass floors.
1″ thickness (25.4 mm)
– glass flooring, stair treads, tables, glass furniture.
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Types of Glass
