Glass is something we see just about everywhere. It is used in our homes, businesses, cars, cookware and dishes, eyeglasses, and much more. It would be safe to say that glass is one of the greatest and most used inventions ever.
What is so interesting about glass is that it is widely used in a diverse way in everyone’s lives, but very few people understand the process of how glasses made. It is a complete mystery to many.
So, How Is Glass Made?
Glass is made from liquid sand. Considering the consistency of sand, this seems quite interesting, but the different types of glass that are created are made by different processes or mixtures of sand. Some forms of glass use such things as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and other compounds to create the material.
To create glass, sand is melted at extremely high temperatures, temperatures nearing 1700°C. When sand has reached its melting point, it begins to transform. The structure breaks down, where it is not a solid anymore, but not quite a liquid either. This allows glassmakers to be able to mould the material into the preferred shape.
In a glass plant sand is mixed with sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate. These substances are then heated to extremely high temperatures. Once it has reached a liquid state, the mixture is poured into a mould where sheets of glass are made. The exact amount of sand to calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate is dependent upon the purpose for the glass. In some instances, other chemicals are added to colour the glass.
Glass Is Multi-Functional
As mentioned before, glass is used in a multitude of ways. It also has properties that can help to perform tasks beyond providing visibility. For example, some forms of glass are great at absorbing heat and then maintaining the heat inside a structure. For home and business owners, this is a great way to reduce electric and heating bills, as the glass helps to provide additional heat to the structure.
Glasses also use in fibre-optic cables. Glass helps in the transfer of information through phones, TVs, network cables, and computers, helping the information conduction process so that it moves quickly and more efficiently than when other types of materials are used.
We often think of glass as a fragile type of material but, when processed to do so, it can be an incredibly strong material that is often shatterproof. This is why professional sports like hockey use a form of glass (plexiglass) around the rink. Fans are able to see the action while sitting in their seats but are protected from the strength and durability of the glass.
A Necessary Tool
Glass has become such an integral part of society, that it is used just about everywhere. This is one of the greatest inventions, especially over the last 150 years when transportation has relied on glass as a primary means to allow people to see while still protecting those inside the vehicle, airplane, train, boat, even space craft.
It is amazing that a substance like sand could be so instrumental in creating glass. Fortunately, because of the vast abundance of sand on the earth, there will be no shortage of this material. Glass will be around for many generations to come.