Modern Glass is not just a fancy window. It plays a crucial role in many aspects from shaping sustainable buildings of the present and future, to our health and well-being while driving technological advancements.
Glass 101
Glass is made up of silicon dioxide, alkali oxide and earth oxide along with other additives according to the desired properties and finish. For making glass, silica sand, soda ash, limestone and other additives are melted in a furnace to 1500°C.
Once melted, Glass is shaped by various techniques according to the required end product. The most commonly used methods include Glass blowing, pressing and floating glass process, each achieving different results.
The glass then goes through a controlled cooling phase called annealing. This ensures that the glass does not crack or weaken due to thermal stress.
In the finishing stage, the glass is cut, polished or ground according to the requirement. It is then properly packed to ensure it does not break in transportation and sent for use.
Modern glass is everywhere, from frameless shower doors to a sensor guiding an autonomous robot to perform a vehicle windscreen replacement. It is surely one of the most important materials in shaping the 21st century.
Importance of modern glass in buildings
Glass is making buildings and cities sustainable. Innovative additives and special coating on glass help regulate the temperature of the building by insulating the interior from the harsh weather outside without demanding any energy input, significantly reducing energy consumption. This results in a greener building and a more energy-efficient building with a reduced carbon footprint.
Large expanses of Glass allow natural light to pour into the building reducing the need for artificial lighting and inherently reducing the energy bill. Natural is also good for the occupants as it has been shown to improve mood, regulate one’s sleep cycle and even enhance productivity!
Glass is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly material for all uses. It can help in decreasing dependency on non-renewable materials.
Importance of Glass in Technology and Science
Glass panels play a crucial role in solar energy technology. They capture sunlight, turning it into electricity, which plays an important role in the development and widespread adoption of renewable energy sources is crucial to fight climate change and for a sustainable future completely running on renewable energy sources.
Our smartphones would not exist if it were not for strong and scratch-resistant glass, its conductive property is also crucial for your phone to register touch and for in-screen fingerprint sensors.
Glass is used as optical fiber for communication and internet cables giving the user lighting fast internet and crystal-clear audio. It is also used in laser and medical technology and saves lives!
Scientists have been using glass for centuries as a crucial instrument due to its properties like heat resistance, chemical stability and its ability to be shaped precisely to requirements. Many laboratory instruments are made of glass because of these properties such as glassware, microscopes, telescopes, and beakers.
Future of Glass: A Crystal Clear Vision
Scientists, researchers and engineers are all finding ways glass can help build a better future. Soon we will have self-dimming, self-cleaning and self-healing glass making buildings more sustainable and lower maintenance.
We will soon also have see-through LEDs that open up avenues of new applications and opportunities. It will also be used in implants to improve human functionality and the next-gen fiber cables. This is only the tip of the iceberg and the beginning of the amazing ways glass will shape the future.