Glass

Although most of us think we know what glass is, it is quite interesting when it is explained in detail. So what is glass? Well, the glass we know is made up by combining minerals and sand under very high temperatures and melted. The glass that is formed is really versatile and has its uses in building, homes, packaging and also the super technology of mobile communications and optics. A variation of glass occurs naturally in a volcano’s mouth, as it erupts there is a formation of something called Obsidian which is glass like but very tough yet brittle and has very sharp edges. Obsidian has in the distant past been used for cutting tools and even been experimented with as a medical tool. Glass is actually more of a liquid as it stands, yet feels solid, but will at high temperatures become softer and look like a liquid. Of course this is why glass can be poured and manipulated, moulded and blown. London Glazing can advise on glass.

The Manufacture Of Glass.
The glass we know is manufactured initially with the melting of different minerals at really high temperatures. The principle element in this process is something called Silica, (which is one of the most commonly found sands on earth) which combines with limestone and something called soda ash and they are melted at around 1700°C. During this process the manufacturer can add various different materials to change colour or the glass’s properties. London Glaziers will know about the production of glass.

Use:
Glass can be covered with a coating, treated with heat, decorated or even engraved for different uses. When the glass is in a molten state it can be formed into things like windows, screens for cars or packaging, in fact there are lots of uses for glass. It will depend on it’s ultimate use as to the rate that it is cooled and also it’s composition.