| It's a such common everyday material, I'm so | | | | flat.There is such a kind of glass that is a bit |
| sure that you'll be able to see it everywhere you | | | | tougher and safer from breakage, called |
| turn. Glass. Yup, that amorphous liquid made out | | | | tempered glass. It is said to be six times stronger |
| of sand.If you've seen "Sweet Home Alabama" | | | | than annealed glass, but it does have a few |
| before, than you know what I'm talking about. | | | | drawbacks.If it does get broken, the whole glass |
| Glass is naturally made out of sand when it is | | | | panel will fall apart into small bits. Also, since the |
| striked by lightning, morphing into brilliant shapes | | | | portions of the tempered glass are formed |
| and objects.I don't think glass will ever cease to | | | | differently, the outer portion of the panel is more |
| be useful, but even as it is highly utilized in this | | | | susceptible to scratches.Laminated glass was |
| world, glass can also be turned into highly-valued | | | | invented by Edouard Benedictus, after discovering |
| works of art.In fact, here's a tip for you: search | | | | that a glass flask coated with cellulose nitrate was |
| the beaches to see if you've found pieces of sea | | | | dropped to the ground, shattered, but did not |
| glass (not naturally occuring but the kind that was | | | | break.This type of glass is more commonly used |
| thrown into the sea and molded by it after many | | | | for windshields and security purposes, as it is |
| years into smooth, round shapes) because they | | | | bulletproof. Laminated glass is formed from typical |
| have lately become valuable and highly | | | | annealed glass and a generous coating of polyvinyl |
| sought-after.It was naturally occuring glass, like | | | | butyral.Recently innovated is self-cleaning glass, |
| obsidian (glass naturally created from volcaninc | | | | which may just put window-cleaners out of |
| magma), that has been in use since the stone | | | | business. It is coated with titanium dioxide. It |
| age.It was then used as a glaze for pottery until | | | | enables ultraviolet rays to break down organic |
| the method of glass-blowing was developed in the | | | | compounds on the surface.Water is also attracted |
| first century b.c., making glass more available. Its | | | | to the surface of the glass, leaving a thin coat |
| name is derived from the Latin word for ice, | | | | that washes away these |
| "glacies."Glass can be made out of pure silica, but | | | | compounds.Low-emmisivity glass has |
| to make the glassmaking process easier, ash and | | | | metallic-based coatings that hinder the glass from |
| lime is added. From these basic ingredients, a | | | | transferring thermal energy, making it more |
| variety of glass can be formed.There is the float | | | | energy-efficient.So whenever you're drinking a |
| or annealed glass. Most of the world's flat glass is | | | | glass of water or marvelling at a glass sculpture |
| annealed glass, since the process for making this | | | | or modern glass architecture, think of what |
| was invented in the 1950s by Sir Alastair | | | | you've just learned and how glass can change the |
| Pilkington.Molten glass is poured onto a tin bath | | | | world you live in.James Monahan is the owner and |
| and levels out to dry in parallel, flat surfaces. | | | | Senior Editor of |
| Annealed glass is not suitable for building as it | | | | and writes expert |
| breaks into shards.Before annealed glass, there | | | | articles about glass. |
| was plate glass, where it was formed by rolling it | | | | |