Glass

Glass is a hard material that is often fragile and transparent. It is mainly composed of silica
(sand), sodium carbonate (soda ash), and calcium carbonate (limestone). These materials fuse together when heated at very high temperatures and forms a rigid structure once cooled. The composition and cooling rate of the glass will vary to achieve certain properties and will depend on the glass’ specific application. Other materials can be added to produce added properties such as durability, effects, colors, etc. Below are types of glasses and its uses:

Soda Glass – this type of glass is the most common type of glass and is achieved by fusing soda ash, sand, and limestone. Soda glass is also called soft glass and its main disadvantage is that it is very brittle.

Hard Glass – this type of glass is achieved by fusing potassium carbonate and limestone and is often used on glass apparatuses.

Lead Crystal Glass – this type of glass is achieved by fusing potassium carbonate, lead oxide, and sand. Lead crystal glass has a high refractive index and is often used for making expensive glassware.

Pyrex Glass – this type of glass is made by fusing a mixture of od sand, borax, lime, and alkali carbonates. Pyrex glasses are often used for chemical laboratory apparatuses, ampoules, and pharmaceutical containers.

Optical Glass – this type of glass is specially created to be free from strains and defects.
Optical glasses are often used for lenses of microscopes, telescopes, cameras, and other optical instruments.

Photochromic Glass – this type of glass has the ability to temporarily darken when exposed upon bright light. This automatic darkening property is possible through the addition of silver bromide.

Safety Glass – this type of glass is made by placing a layer of transparent plastic between
two layers of glass with the use of adhesive. The layers are then joined together with heat
and pressure. Safety glass are often used on the windscreens of automobiles, airplanes, and
bulletproof glass.

Colored Glass – the color of these glasses are obtained through the addition of certain coloring materials to the molten glass material. Adding certain materials can produce a variety of colored glasses.