Types of Glass – 30 Different Types of Glass In Industry

Borosilicate glass is a glass which contains at least 5% boric acid. It is also known as Type-I glass and Pyrex.

Properties

• Resistance to glass at high temperatures and also improves the resistance to chemical corrosion.
• High hydrolytic resistance due to the chemical composition of the glass.
• Better thermal shock resistance
• Chemical durability
• Higher electrical resistivity.

Applications

• Used in laboratory glassware as beakers, test tubes and conical flask.

Composition of some common commercial Borosilicate Glasses

Tempered soda lime glass/ soda -lime glass(untreated)/ soda-lime-silica, the most prevalent type of glass. It is inexpensive and also known as Type-III glass.

Properties

• High mechanical strength
• High thermal shock resistance
• Chemically stable
• Hard

Applications

• Used in windows (flat glass) and containers(container glass)
• Used for glass recycling.
• Commonly used for beverages, food and pharmaceutical preparations.

Type –III glass is not suitable for autoclaved products. Why?

Autoclaving process will accelerate the glass corrosion reaction. Hence, Type-III glass/soda lime silica glass/ soda-lime-silica glass is not suitable for the autoclaved process.

Silica glass is a very thin and transparent glass. It is also called as fused quartz.

Properties

• Can withstand high temperatures
• High chemical durability
• High thermal shock resistance
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Very low electrical conductivity

Applications

• Used in semiconductor fabrication furnaces
• Used in a telescope as surface mirrors

Here we will discuss the special types of glass in detail.

Special Glas

Alkali barium silicate glass is a type of special glass.

Advantage

• To protect our eyes from harmful X-rays
• No long-term health issues

Applications

• Alkali barium silicate glass is used in television screens.

Aluminosilicate glass exists in a wide variety of glass. It contains at least 5% of aluminium oxide.

Properties

• Better chemical resistance
• Withstand high temperature

Applications

• Used in space shuttles, windows, gauges and thermometers

Aluminosilicate glass is categorised into two groups.

• Alkaline earth aluminosilicate glasses

Properties

• High transformation temperature
• High softening points

Applications 

• Used in halogen lamps, thermometers and thermal & electrical resistors.
• Alkali aluminosilicate glasses

Properties

• High compressive strength
• High transformation temperature
• Outstanding mechanical properties

Applications

• Used in touch displays and solar cell cover glass

Ceramic glass is a glass in which the glass is reheated and crystallised
Properties

• Uniform size and uniform crystals
• The high density of crystalline nuclei (To achieve this, add titania, zirconia and phosphorous pentoxide)

Applications

• Used in stovetops and glass utensils.
• Used in dental prostheses

Optical glass is a special product, and this glass is hard to manufacture. This type of glass is also known as crown glass.
Properties

• Low refractive index
• Low dispersion.

Applications

• Used in lenses
• Telescopes

Sealing glass is a glass which is easy to break and manufacture.
Properties

• Capable of wetting
• Thermal expansion of glass must be carefully matched to the seal.

Applications

• Used in bulbs and tube lights

Properties

• High strength and high ductility
• High durability
• Good thermal shock resistance
• Chemical durability

Technical is subdivided into four categories as follows and its applications.

• Borate glass – used in the screen of a computer
• Passivation glass- used as silicon chips in the computer
• Phosphate glass – used in electron multipliers
• Chalcogenide glass – used in computers

The vitreous glass is a glass which is produced at lower temperatures
Properties

• Opaque
• The low thermal expansion coefficient

Applications

• Used in artworks

CONSTRUCTION GLASS

Construction glass is a glass which can be used in building appliances.

Float glass is made of sodium silicate and calcium silicate
Properties

• High density (2500 Kg/m³)
• High refractive index
• Low melting temperature
• Good optical clarity

Applications

• Used in modern windows

The shatterproof glass is a glass which made with resin or plates of plastic. It is also known as bulletproof glass
Properties

• Not form sharp edges when broken

Applications

• Used in windows required high security
• Used in jewellery, military as well as private vehicle
• Used in skylight, flooring

Laminated glass consists of the plastic interlayer in which provides a plastic-like structure
Properties

• High temperature
• Flat and clear
• Minimize breaking

Applications

• Used in front doors and windscreens
• Used in bridges, floors and aquariums

The extra clean glass is a glass which can be maintained easily
Properties

• Photocatalytic
• Hydrophilic
• Acts as stain proof due to above said properties

Applications

• Used for decoration purposes.

The chromatic glass is a colour vision tool for the person who difficult in recognising specific colours. It can be in three forms:

• Photochromatic
• Thermochromatic
• Electro chromatic

Properties

• Control transparent efficiency

Applications

• Used in meeting rooms and ICUs

Tinted glass is a glass in which some addition of colours to glass batch mix.
For example, Iron oxide gives green colour and sulphur provides the blue colour

Properties

• Heat and light transmission
• Ultraviolet transmission

Applications

• Used in transparent surfaces to provide decoration

Toughened glass is a type of safety glass. It is also known as tempered glass.

Properties

• Increasing strength by controlled thermal and chemical treatments
• No internal stress

Applications

• Used in passengers window vehicles
• Used in swimming pools and computer towers

Glass brick is an architectural element made from glass. It is also known as the glass block.
Properties

• Durability
• Extremely resistant
• Good thermal and sound insulation

Applications

• Used in windows, walls and non-load bearing walls

Other Types of Glass

Now we will see other types of glass.

Fibreglass is a glass which is lightweight and robust reinforcement.
Properties

• Good electrical insulator
• Low thermal conductivity
• Low coefficient of linear expansion
• Fire resistance
• Chemical resistance
• Corrosion resistance
• Cracking resistance

Applications

• Chemical industry
• Cooling towers
• Car washes
• Beverage industry

Lead glass is a glass which is made up of toxic material. It is commonly called as crystal.

Properties

• The high atomic weight of 207.2 g/mol
• High electrical resistance (PbO content of 20-22 wt%)
• High refractive index (1.7- 1.8)
• Density up to 3.1 g/cm³ and for high lead glass 4.0 g/cm³ or it can be even up to 5.9 g/cm³
• Good X-Ray shielding properties
• Low-temperature sealing
• Shiny appearance
• Decorative and designing purposes

Applications

• Ornaments and jewellery
• Optical lenses
• Enamel
• Glass sealants
• Drinking glasses
• Prisms
• Decanters

Phosphate glass is a glass which comes under the class of optical glasses.
Properties

• High resistance to hydrofluoric acid
• Act as an efficient heat absorber due to the addition of iron oxide
• Some of this type of glass are soluble in water and biocompatible
• Low glass transition temperature of 365^o C
• Lower thermal conductivity
• Lower optical damage

Applications

• Bone transplantation
• Optical glasses

Gorilla glass is a type of float glass. The chemicals used in gorilla glass are aluminium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. The shape is flat and thickness up to 8mm.
Properties

• Thin scratch and shock resistant glass
• Strong and compatible
• Highly durable
• Lightweight

Applications

• Cell phones to protect the screen.

Treated soda lime glass is a modified type of soda lime glass (untreated). It is also known as Type-II glass.
Properties

• High hydrolytic resistance
• Low melting point

Applications

• Suitable for both acidic and neutral aqueous preparations.

Frosted glass is a glass produced by sandblasting technique or by using etching on the surface of acid.
Properties

• Translucent or semi-opaque(the view is not clear )

Applications

• Decorative patterns
• Light bulbs
• Windows

Alkali borosilicate glass is a hard glass which is used widely
Properties

• High reliability
• High structural strength
• Temperature stability
• Highly insulated in electrics

Applications

• As a sealing in chemical, optical and electronic industries.
• X-Ray tubes and transmitting tubes.

Xena glass is the best form of glass, and it is composed of zinc and barium borosilicate.
Properties

• Soft
• Good quality

Applications

• Containers for chemicals
• Scientific purposes (equipment)

Zerodur is a lithium aluminosilicate glass comes under glass ceramics.
Properties

• Low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Good chemical stability

Applications

• Laser optics
• Space technology
• X-Ray telescopes

The fluorosilicate glass is a glass material. As the name suggests it is made up of fluorine, silicon and oxygen.
Properties

• Low dielectric constant
• Good mechanical and chemical properties

Applications

• Integrated circuit fabrication
• Manufacturing of semiconductor fabrication

Bulletproof glass is a glass made of multiple layers of materials.
Properties

• Resistance to breakage
• Resistant windows in vehicles
• Highly durable and thicker

Applications

• Banks
• Hospitals
• Military vehicles
• Police stations

Glass wool is a fibrous material which is made from melted glass raw materials and broken pieces of glass(cullet)

Properties

• Air trapping property
• Non-combustible
• Good water resistance
• Good acoustic performance

Applications

• Wrap the hot water tank
• Industrial equipment
• Wall insulation

CONCLUSION

In this article, we have seen the types of glass in a detailed way. The properties and applications nearly same/ vary which is based on what types of glass.