Glass Shapes

Glass making is a fascinating process with a long history dating back to around 3500 B.C. It involves transforming raw materials into a smooth, transparent, and versatile material used in countless applications. Here's a breakdown of the process:Raw Materials:

• Silica (sand): The primary component, making up around 70% of glass.
• Flux: Lowers the melting point of silica, typically soda ash or limestone.
• Stabilizers: Improve durability and prevent crystallization, like alumina or magnesia.
• Colorants: Added for decorative purposes, like oxides of metals.
• Methods:
• Float Glass: The most common method, creating flat glass used in windows, mirrors, and solar panels. Molten glass floats on molten tin, spreading evenly and forming large sheets.
• Glassblowing: Traditional method using a blowpipe to shape molten glass. Often used for artistic pieces and glassware.
• Press and Blow: Used for mass-producing bottles and containers. Molten glass is pressed into a mold, then inflated with air to form the final shape.
• Continuous Casting: A continuous process for making sheet glass, where molten glass flows onto a forming roll and cools as it travels.