LECTURE#07

Glass
Composition
The glass is obtained by fusion of silica (SiO2),
lime and potash or soda (Na2CO3) at over
1000C.
In order to modify its properties of hardness,
brilliance and color, other ingredients like iron
oxide, lead oxide, borax etc are added in
varying proportions.
Functions of various constituents of glass
are:
a) Silica
It is the main constituent of all kinds of
glass.
Since it fuses at a very high temperature some alkaline admixture like sodium carbonate or
potassium carbonate is added to it so as to make it fuse at lower temperatures
The admixture also make the liquid silica more viscous and better workable
b) Lime
It imparts durability and toughness to glass.
c) Potash
This makes the glass strong, infusible and gives fire resisting properties to it.
d) Soda
It quickens fusion of glass and as such excess of it is harmful.
e) Lead oxide
It gives color to glass.
Classification of glass
Glass is usually classified into three categories
a) Soda lime glass (sand 63-74%, soda ash 12-16% and limestone 7-14%)
It is obtained from the fusion of silica with lime, sodium carbonate (soda) and alumina (Al2O3).This
glass is also termed as soda glass or soft glass. It is a mixture of sodium silicate and calcium silicate.
It is used for glazing doors, windows and for making ordinary glass wares.
For green colour ferrous silicate, for dark colour iron oxide and for no colour manganese dioxide is
added.

b) Lead glass

It is obtained from the fusion of mixture of silica, lead and potash. This glass is also termed as flint
glass. Lead glass has highly shining appearance and it takes polish well. it is not affected by
temperature. Cut glass work, electric bulbs and optical glass are made from it. This type of glass is also
used in jewelry.
c) Boro-silicate glass
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When boron oxide is added to soda lime glass, boro-silicate glass is formed.(81% silica, 4% lime, 12%
borax, 2% alumina)
It is about three times as heat resistant as soda-lime glass. It is also more resistant to chemical.
Laboratory equipment and cooking utensils are made out of it.
VARIOUS VARIETIES OF GLASS (Commercial Forms)
Various varieties of glass are:
i) Sheet glass

This variety most extensively used in engineering works

Thickness varies from 2 mm to 6.5 mm.
Its size is up to 175110 cm.
It is obtained in three classes
Ordinary glazing quality: it is use for general glazing
Selected glazing quality: it is better than ordinary glazing
Special selected quality: it is used for superior purposes like showcases and cabinet works etc.
ii) Plate glass

It is made in thickness varying from 3 mm to 32 mm and sizes up to 275 90 cm.

It is stronger and is more transparent than the sheet glass. It is ground and polished.
It is of the following three qualities
Ordinary glazing quality: used for cabinets, showcases, shop fronts etc.
Selected glazing quality: mostly used in making mirrors
Special glazing quality: it is used for high class works
iii) Tempered Plate Glass

Glass plate is heated and then suddenly cooled to temper it. . Tempered glass is four to five times
stronger than standard glass. The brittle nature of tempered glass causes it to shatter into small oval-
shaped pebbles when broken. This eliminates the danger of sharp edges. Due to this property, along with
its strength, tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass..and is used for glazing entrance doors or
in making table tops, shelves, counters etc.
iv) Laminated Glass

Two or more glass plates with intervening layers of transparent plastics are bound under effects of heat
and pressure. Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. It is used in
glazing windows and doors of buildings.
v) Wired Glass

It is a rough cast translucent glass with special steel wire mesh of 0.46 to 0.56 mm diameter completely
embedded between the layers of glass. It is fire retardant.
It is extensively used sky lights, glazed partitions, doors and windows in buildings.
OR

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It is formed by embedding a wire mesh at the center of the glass sheet during casting due to this when
glass breaks it do not fall into splinters. Additionally, it is more fire resistant than ordinary glass.
Uses: It is used mainly for making fire-resisting doors, windows, skylights, roofs
vi) Insulating Glass

Two layers of glass separated by 6 mm to 12 mm of dehydrated air are sealed to provide heat insulation
and to ensure transmission of light.
It is used in glazing doors and windows.
vii) Colored glass

By adding oxides of metals to molten glass, the finish product gets coloured.
Colored glasses are used for decoration work in building construction
viii) Heat absorbing glass

It has bluish green colour and cuts off ultra violet rays of sun.
ix) Flint glass

It is lead glass which shines and take up good polish. it is used as optical glass, for making electric bulbs
and valves etc.
x) Ground glass

One face of plate of sheet glass is made rough by grinding.in order to make it translucent so that it
transmit light but provide privacy by obstructing vision.
xi) Block glass

These are hollow sealed glass blocks made by fastening together two halves of pressed glass. These
blocks provide heat and sound proof partitions.

Properties of glass
Main properties of glass are
Solid and hard material
Disordered and amorphous structure
Fragile and easily breakable into sharp pieces
Transparent to visible light
Inert and biologically inactive material.
Uses
Glass is used for electrical transmission, instruments for scientific research,
Glass is used as optical instruments,
Glass is used domestic tools and even textiles.
Glass blocks can be used in partition walls and external no load bearing walls.
Sheet glass is used in paneled windows.
Used in ventilators.
Glass sheets are used in cupboards.

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Plate glasses are used in wind screens of vehicles.

Bullet proof glasses are used in jewelry stores, bank cash booths, etc

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