Being one of the oldest materials, glass is used by mankind for thousands of years, not just one.The versatility of this material has enabled him to find application in various industries.On physical and chemical properties of the glass refers to inorganic compounds, it is hard, has an amorphous structure, is isotropic.
for each type of glass during the manufacturing process is characterized by the transformation of the state of aggregation of flowable, highly viscous to glassy appearance.The production technology provides cooling it at a rate that does not allow to go into the phase of solidification.
melting point of glass depends on its quality and expected performance.Typically, cooking takes place over a fairly wide range of temperatures from 300 to 2500 ° C.Dependent properties of this substance from the components that make up the glass-forming melts.The list is quite extensive, and is presented by various oxides, phosphates, fluorides, and other additives.This classic transparency is not the last feature for different types of glass, occurring in nature and synthesized in the course of production.
glass with the most ancient carvings dating back seven centuries BC, met archeologists engaged in excavations in Egypt.These were the beads and charms.But after a few thousand years, until the first industrial plants, glass factories of the eighteenth century.The peculiarity of glass production in the charge is that the melting temperature of the glass is achieved using coal and boilers for cooking steel closed.
Prior to that used as fuel wood, glass-long workshops were not in place, scattered furnace and the fuel consumed in the area quickly.The boilers were open, the wood does not release substances that affect the clarity and color of the output product.Melting point glass in a process of this type reached 1450 ° C.
important event was the invention of the early XX century method of production of flat glass, named after its developer Emil Fourcault, who proposed a way to extract the machine.It existed until 1959, he was expelled Float method developed by the company "Pilkington".
main components of a conventional glass is silica sand in a ratio of 69-74%, ash (12-16%), dolomite and limestone (5-12%).But in the process of production it is essential not only at what temperature to melt the glass, but also how the cooling rate of the melt.Theoretically, the rapid cooling can be obtained vitreous and metal, the main thing to have time to cool the melt to form a crystal lattice.
With all the variety of attractive properties of ordinary glass at one time there was an urgent need for more durable and lightweight transparent material.First of all, it affected the industry, specializing in aircraft construction.Plexiglas got its name for a resemblance to traditional glass.
Shock him five times higher, it is easier to 2.5 times.As it reaches the level of light transmission of 92%, it has a high resistance to aging.It is much easier and more affordable in the treatment of Plexiglas.Melting plexiglass is within 90-105 degrees, which allows it to be heat treated.
But both of these materials have taken every niche in the modern workplace.Traditional inorganic glass firmly holds its position and is not going to take the latest organic polymers.
use a wide variety of impurities or additives allows to obtain not only surprising optical characteristics of the glass, but also significantly improve its mechanical properties.
Besides industrial use, it is impossible not to note the role of art glass.Masters-glassblowers, continuing the tradition of the ancient artists create masterpieces made of glass in the true art.In their workshops furnaces glass melting temperature is reached, working almost hand in his work, they not only show remarkable imagination, but also spend a lot of physical effort.
