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By
Fatima Farooq
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NAME FATIMA FAROOQ

ROLL NO 2172218

SUBJECT
INDUSTRIALCHEMISTRY

TOPIC GLASS INDUSTRY

SUBMITTED TO MAM SADIA SHOKAT

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CONTENTS

 What is glass?.................................................................................4

 History………………………………………………………………………..4

 Composition………………………………………………………………….5

 Properties…………………………………………………………………….6

 Structure………………………………………………………………….…..7

 Raw materials……………………………………………………………....8

 Manufacturing process…………………………………………………..….9

 Types and application of glass……………………………………………..12

 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………..14

 References…………………………………………………………………..14
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GLASS INDUSTRY
1) What is glass?
Glass is an inorganic, amorphous solid material, often transparent or translucent, made by
melting natural materials like sand, soda ash, and limestone, and then cooling them to form a
solid.

a. PHYSICALLY
Glass may physically be defined as a rigid, undercooled liquid having no definite melting point
and a sufficiently high viscosity greater than 10^12 Pa.s to prevent crystallization.
b. CHEMICALLY
Glass is chemically defined as the union of the nonvolatile inorganic oxides resulting from the
decomposition and fusion of alkali and alkaline earth compounds, sand and other glass
constituents, ending in a product with random structure.
2) HISTORY
Glass was first made in the ancient world, but little is known about man’s first efforts to make
glass. Amulets and solid beads were made in Mesopotamia as far back as 2500BC. Later, glass
making was further developed in Egypt around 1500BC.
The very first glass known to Stone Age people which was used for making weapons and
decorative objects, was obsidian, black volcanic glass. The earliest known man made glass are
date back to around 3500BC, with finds in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia.
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3) COMPOSITION
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4) PROPERTIES
a. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
 Transparency/Translucency:
Glass is known for its ability to transmit light, allowing a clear view of objects on the other side.
 Insulation:
Glass acts as a good insulator against heat, electricity, and electromagnetic radiation.
 Strength:
Glass has high compressive strength, meaning it can withstand significant pressure, but it can
also be brittle and shatter easily under impact.
 Chemical Resistance:
Glass is highly resistant to chemical reactions and can withstand exposure to various
environmental conditions and acidic effects.
 Recyclability:
Glass is 100% recyclable, making it a sustainable material.
 Shape and Color:
Glass can be shaped and colored in various ways, depending on its intended use.
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b. THERMAL PROPERTIES:
Glass has good thermal properties, including high thermal resistance, which means it can
withstand high temperatures.
 Viscosity:
Glass has a high viscosity, meaning it is resistant to flow, which is important for its structural
integrity.

c. OPTICAL PROPERTIES:
 Transparency:
Glass allows visible light to pass through, providing clarity and transparency.
 Reflectivity:
Glass reflects some light, which can be influenced by its composition and surface treatment.
 Color:
The color of glass can be altered by adding certain elements to the glass composition.
d. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:
 Chemical Resistance:
Glass is generally resistant to most chemicals, including acids, bases, and solvents.
 Leaching:
Some types of glass, particularly those containing sodium or alkali metal ions, can experience
leaching when exposed to liquids or vapor.
 Chemical Compatibility:
Glass is a good choice for applications where chemical compatibility is crucial, such as in
laboratory equipment and microfluidic devices.
5) STRUCTURE
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6) RAW MATERIALS
Glass manufacturing materials can be divided into following categories
1. Glass former
2. Flux
3. Modifier
4. Coloring agents
5. .Fining agents
6. Cullet (broken glass pieces)
a. Glass former
Glass former: one of the most important components present in any glass Ø Silica (SiO2), Ø
boric oxide (B2O3) and Ø phosphoric oxide (P2O5) are the most common type of glass formers
present in oxide glass
The use of silica glass is wide but melting temperature of silica is too high (1600- 1725ºC).
b. Flux
To reduce the processing temperature of silica, different types of flux such as Na2O and PbO
can be used
The addition of fluxes to silica reduces the overall cost of glass processing but results in
degradation of properties.
To reduce the processing temperature of silica, different types of flux such as Na2O and PbO
can be used
Sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate are common fluxes
c. Modifiers
Boron, sodium, magnesium, titanium, and calcium can be used to modify the properties of glass
Potash glass is denser than soda glass. To overcome this problem, different property modifiers
or intermediates are used.
d. Colorants
Colorants are used to control the color in the final glass.
The amount of iron oxides (impurities) present in the glass results in unintentional change in
color of glass.
The other types of colorants used are gold and silver. These types of colorants change glass color
by forming colloids in glasses
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e. Fining agent
As the raw materials melt and react inside the furnace, carbon dioxide and water emission takes
place which causes formation of bubbles.
Fining agents such as arsenic, antimony oxides, potassium and sodium nitrates are added to raw
materials to remove bubbles from the melt .The high temperature and low viscosity is maintained
to raise the gas bubbles at the upper surface of the melt and hence removed from the melt
Fining is important because it controls the homogeneity of glass by eliminating bubbles.
f. Cullets
These are the pieces of waste glass. Addition of these pieces to the charge facilitates melting and
also helps to utilize the waste.
7) MANUFACTURING PROCESS
1. Batching
Based on the type of the glass suitable glass manufacture
materials are selected. Raw materials are reduced in size by
crushing and grinding.
The raw materials, including silica sand, soda ash, limestone,
and sometimes cullet (recycled glass), are carefully weighed
and mixed in precise proportions according to the desired
composition of the glass.

2. Melting
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a. Pot furnace

b. Tank furnace
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Reactions inside furnace

3. Forming and shaping

Once melted, the molten glass is formed into the desired shape. This can be achieved through
various methods such as:
Blowing: Used for producing hollow glass objects like bottles and glassware. A hollow tube is
dipped into the molten glass, and air is blown through it to expand the glass into the shape of a
mold.
Pressing: Involves pressing molten glass into a mold using mechanical force. This method is
often used for producing glass objects with intricate designs or flat surfaces.
Drawing: Used for producing flat glass sheets. Molten glass is poured onto a metal table and
drawn into a thin sheet using rollers.
4. Annealing
After forming, the glass is gradually cooled in a controlled manner to relieve internal stresses and
strengthen the material. This is typically done in a process called annealing, where the glass is
slowly cooled in a temperature-controlled kiln.
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Process’s flow diagram

8) TYPES AND APPLICATION OF GLASS

a. Soda glass

Soda-lime glass, most common form of glass produced. It is composed of about 70

percent silica (silicon dioxide), 15 percent
soda (sodium oxide), and 9 percent lime
(calcium oxide), with much smaller amounts of
various other compounds.

Uses

Soda-lime glass is produced on a large scale and used for bottles, drinking glasses, and windows.
Its light transmission properties, as well as low melting temperature, make it suitable for use as
window glass. Its smooth and non-reactive surface makes it excellent as containers for food and
drinks.
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b. Float glass

Float glass, or plate glass, is a primary

type of glass made by floating molten
glass on top of low-melting point alloy
metal, usually tin, at around 1,200ºC.
This results in large panels of smooth,
flat glass of even thickness which, when
hardened, can be cut to specific sizes or
shapes.

Uses

As the most common type of affordable

glass, float glass will often be used for low-cost windows and smaller display cabinet-style
doors, as well as being the base material for almost every other application.

c. Tinted glass

Tinted glass is made by adding metal oxide pigment to reduce the

amount of light passing through it. Shades can vary and can be used to
increase energy efficiency, privacy, or minimize glare while allowing
natural light to come through. Tinted glass can also reduce harmful
UV rays, though solar glass is better suited for this and is preferred
for glass house extensions.

Uses

Tinted glass is suitable for any environment where it’s needed, though
it’s most commonly seen in car windows, electronic devices, and
office doors and windows. It’s also well suited to skylights or windows at home for privacy.

d. Laminated glass

Laminated glass is a strong safety glass made

up of two or more separate sheets of glass with
a plastic film, usually made of PVB (polyvinyl
butyric), placed in between them. This plastic
layer makes the glass stronger, but if it breaks,
the layer holds the glass in place, preventing
shattering and possible injury. Laminated glass
also provides improved UV protection and
soundproofing qualities.
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Uses

Laminated glass is used extensively in public buildings and is common in shop windows and
doors, skylights, and balustrades, while a variation of it is used in car windscreens. In residential
installations, laminated glass is often a preferred option to toughened glass.

e. Coated glass

Coated glass is a type of glass that’s

been modified with a thin coating,
applied to one or both sides of the glass
to give it specific characteristics. It can
deliver scratch resistance, glare
reduction, or improved UV protection,
but applications can vary widely with
many different coatings available.

Uses

Some of the most common uses of

coated glass are for double-glazed
residential windows and doors that
improve a property’s thermal insulation. Low-E glass (above) is a good example of a coated
glass installation.

9) CONCLUSION
The glass industry is a diverse and evolving sector, with a history spanning centuries and a future
focused on sustainability and innovation, encompassing everything from manufacturing to
recycling and applications in various sectors like building, automotive, and consumer goods.

10) REFERENCES
 https://study.com/academy/lesson/types-of-glasses

 https://byjus.com/physics/composition-of-glass/

 https://www.britannica.com/technology/glass

 https://www.swiftglass.com/blog/glass-materials-properties