Glass- The Known and the Unknown

Glass is an amorphous solid material made up of sand, silica and soda. Glass is also referred as” Super cooled liquid". Glass can be made transparent and flat or into other shapes and colors.

During manufacturing of glass metals and metal oxides are added to change the color of glass. For example, for decolorization a small amount of selenium is added and or added in excess to impart reddish color. Small amount of cobalt is added to yield blue glass. Adding titanium produces yellowish-brown glass. Based on the concentration, nickel produces blue or violet or even black color. On adding 0.1 to 2% of uranium produce fluorescent yellow or green color. Small concentrations of cobalt (0.025 to 0.1%) yield blue glass.

The most familiar form of glass is the silica-based material used for windows, containers and decorative objects. The basic ingredients of glass include silica, ash and lime. From these basic ingredients, a variety of glass can be formed. Float or annealed glass, molten glass, plate glass, tempered glass, laminated glass, self cleaning glass are some varieties of glass.

At an early age, natural glass (obsidian glass) created from volcanic magma is used. To early man, obsidian glass was very rare and valuable commodity. Obsidian glass is used as a glaze for pottery until the method of glass blowing was developed in the first century.

Glass and glass made products are used for many things. Glass can be tuned into high works of art. Many household objects are made of glass. For example, drinking glasses, bowls and bottles are often made of glasses as are light bulbs, mirrors the picture tubes of televisions and windows. Most of the laboratory equipments are made of glass.

Glass made objects attract the attention of others. It gives luxurious look to your home or office. Glass and glass articles are affordable and at the same time they have much functional value. Decorative mirrors give majestic look to place. The glass is a strong unreactive object, because of this property it is used in Kitchen, gym, bathroom, bedroom, bars, and doors. A gorgeous glass of object of art symbolizes the beauty of love.