Glassware melts at a very high temperature, this is approximately 1700 degrees. Glass is made from a mixture of silicates and sand which causes its very high melting temperature. The most common make up of regular glass is sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate and sand/quartz.
The presence of sodium carbonate in this make-up is to lower the melting temperature of the glass. Nitrates can also be added into the mix to lower this temperature. It is this sodium carbonate and nitrate mix that allows glass to heat and also melt quicker than if the glass was made more traditionally.
There is also another method to create glass that can be heated and cooled quickly. This is mainly used in Pyrex dishes that are made to go into a hot oven, or car windscreens which have heated panels to prevent condensation whilst driving. The added compound in this glass is boron oxide. This allows the silica to heat and cool without any damage to the product. Calcium oxide can also be added to the make-up of glassware to toughen it and prevent breakages. This is best used in windows.
There are also different elements added to the make-up of glass so that it can perform different functions or be molded in a particular way. These are mainly to help the cooling process. If glass is cooled too quickly, it can become very brittle and break. If cooled too slowly, the glass may become opaque. For this reason glass is cooled in a furnace where the temperature is regulated so that the output is clear, tough glass.
The presence of sodium carbonate in this make-up is to lower the melting temperature of the glass. Nitrates can also be added into the mix to lower this temperature. It is this sodium carbonate and nitrate mix that allows glass to heat and also melt quicker than if the glass was made more traditionally.
There is also another method to create glass that can be heated and cooled quickly. This is mainly used in Pyrex dishes that are made to go into a hot oven, or car windscreens which have heated panels to prevent condensation whilst driving. The added compound in this glass is boron oxide. This allows the silica to heat and cool without any damage to the product. Calcium oxide can also be added to the make-up of glassware to toughen it and prevent breakages. This is best used in windows.
There are also different elements added to the make-up of glass so that it can perform different functions or be molded in a particular way. These are mainly to help the cooling process. If glass is cooled too quickly, it can become very brittle and break. If cooled too slowly, the glass may become opaque. For this reason glass is cooled in a furnace where the temperature is regulated so that the output is clear, tough glass.
