Glass Basics: 18 flashcards
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1. What is glass primarily made from?
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Glass is primarily made from **silica (sand)**, **soda ash**, and **limestone**, which are melted together at high temperatures.
2. What is the main component of most glass?
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**Silicon dioxide (SiO₂)** – commonly known as **silica** or **quartz** – is the main component.
3. Why is soda ash added to the glass mixture?
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**Soda ash** (sodium carbonate) lowers the melting point of silica, making the glass easier to form and reducing energy costs.
4. What role does limestone play in glassmaking?
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**Limestone** (calcium carbonate) adds **stability** and **durability** to the glass, preventing it from dissolving in water.
5. Is glass a solid or a liquid?
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Glass is an **amorphous solid** – it has a solid-like rigidity but lacks a crystalline structure, and its atoms are arranged randomly.
6. What is the glass transition temperature (Tg)?
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The **glass transition temperature** is the temperature at which a material changes from a hard, brittle state to a soft, rubbery state upon heating.
7. Name the most common type of glass used in windows and bottles.
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**Soda-lime glass** – it's made from silica, soda ash, and limestone, and is cheap and easy to produce.
8. What is borosilicate glass and what is it used for?
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**Borosilicate glass** contains boron trioxide, which gives it high thermal resistance. It's used in laboratory glassware and kitchen bakeware.
9. How is tempered glass made and why is it safer?
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**Tempered glass** is heated and then rapidly cooled, creating internal stress. When it breaks, it shatters into small, blunt pieces, reducing injury risk.
10. What is laminated glass and where is it commonly used?
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**Laminated glass** has a plastic interlayer (like PVB) between two glass layers. It holds together when shattered, making it ideal for windshields and security glass.
11. What is the difference between annealed and tempered glass?
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**Annealed glass** is slowly cooled to relieve internal stresses, making it easier to cut but more prone to sharp shards. **Tempered glass** is heat-treated for strength and safety.
12. What is the main property that makes glass useful for optical applications?
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**Transparency** – glass allows light to pass through with minimal scattering, which is why it's used in lenses, prisms, and windows.
13. How does the addition of metal oxides affect glass color?
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Metal oxides like **iron oxide** (green), **cobalt oxide** (blue), and **chromium oxide** (green) absorb specific wavelengths of light, giving glass its color.
14. What is the main advantage of glass as a packaging material?
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Glass is **chemically inert**, non-porous, and impermeable, meaning it doesn't react with contents and preserves flavor and quality.
15. What is the primary environmental concern with glass production?
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Glass production is **energy-intensive** due to high melting temperatures, leading to significant CO₂ emissions.
16. What is cullet and why is it used in glassmaking?
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**Cullet** is recycled glass. It melts at a lower temperature than raw materials, saving energy and reducing waste.
17. What is the main difference between glass and crystal?
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**Crystal** contains lead oxide (or other metal oxides) which increases its refractive index, making it sparkle more and have a higher density than regular glass.
18. Why is glass considered a sustainable material?
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Glass is **100% recyclable** without loss of quality, and it can be recycled endlessly, making it a sustainable packaging choice.
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