Glass is a material that we have been using in a variety of ways for hundreds of years. Whether it is to provide the panes of glass that a Double Glazing Worcester company will install or to give a beautiful effect in a flower vase, glass is incredibly versatile. Here are a few facts about glass that you may not be aware of.
- Glass comes from sand that is mixed with lime and soda ash and then heated to incredibly high temperatures. This liquid id then poured into the relevant shaped moulds for the item that is being created and as it cools it turns into the glass material that we know.
- Coloured glass is not created by adding dies to the liquid but by adding minerals. Nickel oxide added to the liquid will result in the glass turning a violet colour.
- Glass is one of the few materials that we use that is 100% recyclable. This means that it can be melted down and turned into another glass item and in doing so it doesn’t lose any of its quality or purity. It is for this reason that people are being encouraged to move from plastic to glass in their packaging products.
Soda-lime, phosphate and borosilicate glass
Glass comes in standard panes, in toughened form for items that must not shatter dangerously, and in laminated form, which holds together when broken and is used for features such as glass balustrades. Beyond these, the chemistry of the glass itself varies with the job it has to do.
Soda-lime silica glass is the everyday type, used for jars, bottles and food and toiletry containers. It is thought to make up over 90 per cent of all glass produced, and because its raw materials are common and easy to source it is also one of the cheapest. The trade-off is strength: it breaks more easily than other types.
Phosphate glass takes colour well but does not stand up to chemicals, so it is prone to corrosion. It is used in medical and military settings, including x-ray equipment and lenses. Borosilicate glass is strong, durable and unaffected by sudden temperature changes, which makes it ideal for ovenware and laboratory jars and dishes. It also resists scratching, so it can be cleaned with products that would mark ordinary glass.
