If you studied your surroundings, no matter whether you’re inside or outside, you can be sure that there’s at least one glass item. And in some cases, there’ll be dozens. Glass is a truly amazing material that is used in a variety of products.

That includes objects like smartphones and refrigerators, containers, and windows. Whether it’s working to shield you from the UV rays and other adverse weather conditions or keeping your food items cold.

But just how is glass made? We’re going to look at what glass is made of and what exactly is involved in the glass manufacturing process.

What is Glass Made Of?

The majority of glass is created from a combination of materials, with silica accounting for a sizable portion of the composition. Two main elements make up silicon dioxide: silica and oxygen. More specifically, silicon dioxide is what makes up silica sand which is what is commonly used to make glass.

Silica is blended with alkalis, namely soda (sodium bicarbonate) and limestone.

Sodium bicarbonate helps to reduce the melting point of the material whereas the limestone acts as a stabilising agent. This specific combination strengthens and greatly increases the water resistance of the glass. And because they are a part of our natural environment, these substances are widely distributed.

Glass Manufacturing Process

Depending on the manufactured final product and its intended uses, the glass industry employs a wide range of production techniques. However, the origin of each of these production methods is the melting of the glass.

Two sorts of raw materials are needed for glass melting: various kinds of sand and recycled glass. Each raw material is combined, charged into a furnace, and melted at a temperature of about 1500 degree Celsius to create molten glass.

Once the glass is molten, it’s removed from the furnace and allowed to cool before being moulded. The produced glass can go through further processing to give it certain qualities for multiple purposes. Qualities such as improved mechanical strength or higher breaking resistance.

To satisfy the requirements of certain applications the precise composition of glass may vary. But the most widely used type of glass – soda-lime glass – is made of silica sand, soda ash, limestone, dolomite, and glass cullets (recycled glass).

Glass can be coloured green or blue by adding extra components like cobalt or iron oxide to the mixture.

Applications of Glass

Considering just how many products are made with glass as a material, it’s become clear that modern life would not be as advanced or as easy without it.

Here’s just some examples, but not a complete list, of applications of glass:

  • Packaging – jars and bottles for food and drink, flacon for pharmaceuticals.
  • Tableware – drinking glasses, plates, bowls.
  • Buildings and Housing – windows, conservatories, insulation.
  • Furniture & Interior Design – mirrors, lights, tables, shelving.
  • Electricals & Appliances – TVs, smartphones, computer screens, oven doors.
  • Vehicles and Transportation – headlights, windows, windscreens, wing mirrors.
  • Biotechnology – optical glass, glass screen displays, microscopes, microscope slides.
  • Protection against radiation (X-Rays) and nuclear radiation (gamma rays).
  • Sustainable power – solar panels, wind turbines.

The numerous characteristics of the glass composition enable all of these things and many more.

How Glass Contributes to Sustainability

Glass is a durable, totally recyclable material that offers significant environmental advantages. One such advantage is reducing climate change whilst conserving priceless natural resources.

Aid with Global Warming

Glass has a wide range of applications where it can reduce energy use.

The use of insulating glass for windows is the most commonly practiced example, but there are lesser well-known items like wight-lightening reinforcement glass fibre. A product which is used in automobile, aviation, and other forms of transportation to reduce vehicle weight and fuel consumption.

Solar-thermal applications as well as wind turbines greatly benefit from low weight reinforcement glass fibres. Through this application, glass can be used to produce sustainable energy solutions.

Conserving Resources

Sand and glass waste, which are both plentiful natural raw materials used to make glass, are an efficient use or resources. Glass is fully recyclable that can be recycled in a close loop repeatedly. Old, broken glass (cullets) is reused by being added to the furnace during the manufacturing process.

For instance, glass bottles have a recycling rate which averagely ranges between 50% to 80%. Recycling glass helps to protect the natural resources on the earth and save a sizable amount of raw materials, too.

And because glass scraps have a lower melting point than raw materials, glass recycling contributes to energy saving.

Our Glass Thermal Spraying Solutions

In order to meet the demands of the glass manufacturing industry, Alphatek offers a variety of surface engineering coatings (HVOF, Flame Spraying).

Production facilities for bottles and glass containers work in extremely hot, corrosive, and wear-and-tear environments. So for the highest level of protection even in the most demanding conditions, we have developed HVOF and Fluoropolymer coatings (HYPERGLAZE).

Specialists in Thermal Coatings

We have more than 100 years of combined experience in coating here at Alphatek.

Throughout time, we have developed close relationships with our clientele which has enabled us to produce distinctive products that are appropriate for specific markets and needs. We create our coatings to offer the greatest results each and every time, with a hassle-free service that benefits everyone.

The finest protection, the best value, and the best efficiency.

If you require specialists in metal spraying and thermal spray coating, we can help. Contact the Alphatek team today. You can reach us via phoning 01706 821 021 or emailing us. We’ll answer any questions you have or give you the advice you’re looking for.

You are also welcomed to stop by our office if that would be more convenient. A 20-mile drive north from Manchester, make sure to call ahead to confirm our operating hours.