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Everything about Glass

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Glass has become a very important part of human civilization. It entirely changed how man lives with almost the same impact as fire. Glass is now used for all kinds of things, from packaging to making houses, to cars and all the other things that you can imagine. But what exactly is glass?

Despite the heavy usage, there’s a good number of people that have no idea what glass is made up of or how they are even manufactured in the first place. The following is a quick investigation of what glass is, the elements that affect it, and how it behaves in certain environments. If you have always been curious about how glass bottle producers make glass, then this is for you.

Glass Bottle

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What Temperature Is Glass Made

Glass Bottles in a Shelf

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The process of making glass involves the use of very high temperatures, and this is necessary since the raw materials used are usually sand and quartz. Both are very hardy materials that have to be melted down first in order to extract the ingredients needed to make various types of glass. This is called liquid sand.

For you to heat down liquid sand to the point where it melts down to form glass, you need to maintain constant temperatures of up to 1700°C. Once the molten sand cools down, it doesn’t revert back to the brown and gritty, sandy form it was in before. The high temperatures end up completely transforming it permanently, giving it an entirely new structure.

Depending on the temperatures attained and the methods used, different types of glass can be extracted from the same batch of sand and used for a huge variety of uses in the modern day-to-day life of human beings.

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Why Does Glass Shatter When Heated

Shattered Glass

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This is called thermal shock, and it is a process that occurs when a thermal gradient causes different parts of glass to heat up quickly but unevenly. This causes thermal stress that causes some parts to expand faster than the cooling parts can keep up. This back and forth causes faults and cracks to start appearing, and eventually, when it becomes too big, the glass simply shatters into tiny pieces.

 

This is the sole reason people who use glass cookware are asked to gradually heat them up slowly when using them. For instance, when using an oven, don’t heat it up first as usual. Simply place the glass bowl inside first, then turn on the heat for the distribution to be even.

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At What Temperature Does Glass Melt

Melting Glass

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The melting point of the average glass structure stands at 1400°C and can stretch all the way up to 1600°C, depending on the nature and the thickness of the glass in question. These varying melting temperatures play a huge role when it comes to molding glass into various shapes, and glass bottle manufacturing companies can take advantage of that to come up with uniquely shaped objects like bottles, vases, and the likes. This is due to the mix of different components of sand, which is the main raw material for making glass. 

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At What Temperature Does Glass Break?

Shard of Glass

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When subjected to extreme heat, the average thin glass breaks when the temperature hits 200°C; the reason is very simple. Glass is a very poor conductor of thermal heat, and any sudden changes in heat will cause the stress within the structure of the glass reading to crack and completely shatter if the heat continues being administered. The process is even faster and more severe if the glass comes from a cold state to a sudden rise in heat.

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How to Break Glass Safely

Broken Glass Pieces

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Breaking glass the wrong way can lead to injuries to those involved and this is why the process is handled in a controlled environment by people who are trained for it. The following is the safest way to break the glass.

● Soak the glass in warm soapy water for 15 minutes to loosen labels and other materials on it.

● Place newspapers on the site of demolition, most likely on the floor.

● Wear protective gear to cover your eyes and hands. Helmets, goggles, and gloves should suffice.

● Cover the glass with newspapers or any other materials.

● Grab a hammer and start pounding away. The wrapping will stop the glass pieces from flying off and muffle the voice too.

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Conclusion

Glass is fragile, but it can be handled safely in many ways. This is why it has become a very important part of civilization, used in all types of packaging and making all kinds of items used in domestic and commercial situations. If you are looking to get into the glass-making business, be it for bottling purposes or otherwise, then check out our website at any time of the day and have all your questions answered by our team of experts. 

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