Glass just might be the most versatile material that humankind has ever discovered. With numerous different types of glass, it&#;s no wonder that there are thousands of unique uses created from these incredible resources. 

Link to Tenroads

A vast majority of people are under the impression that glass is a more expensive material than plastic because of its weight. However, this is a common misconception that has been perpetuated by the plastic industry for decades. In fact, glass is longer lasting than plastics and can be recycled indefinitely, proving that this material is far superior to what we&#;ve been told. 

Let&#;s take a look at what exactly glass is and how it&#;s made! 

&#;

&#;

A Brief History of Glass

The glass production process may seem complex, but it&#;s actually quite simple and has been around for over a million years. The first records of glass were found using volcanic glass, or obsidian (nature-made glass), used as arrowheads, knives, money, or jewelry. 

Glass blowing&#;s rich history dates back to the 1st century BC when the oldest known glassblowers began to harness the trade in Syria and Palestine. Since then, glass blowing and glass manufacturing has taken off, quickly becoming one of the most valuable building materials for a wide variety of uses. 

&#;

&#;

What is Glass Made of?

&#;
Glass starts off as a type of sand, sort of like what we find on our favorite beaches. This fine, almost powder-like substance consists of a mixture of glass-specific sand and silica, called silica sand. 

Glass containers are primarily all made of a base mixture of silica, limestone, and soda-ash, melted down into a viscous liquid. When the base is melted down, it is sometimes treated with additional materials to alter the functionality after cooling. These different mixtures create unique properties, so the glass is able to best serve a certain purpose. 

There are different types of glass ingredients other than this base, but 90%1 of all manufactured glass starts with those three. Of course, with different additives come different uses, like making the glass stronger, more heat resistant, or adding colors.

It&#;s the same for different colors of glass products, each shade is created differently, with additives that bring out vibrant colors. The majority of these additives are different types of oxides, for example, manganese dioxide for clear or light purple glass, chromium oxide for green, and so on. 

Oftentimes color is also derived from different metal additives, like iron or nickel. However, there are other important components added that can alter the color, such as calcium, coal, and different phosphates. Each shade of glass cannot be combined in the process because the additives will have chemical reactions with each other.

Once the specific ingredients are combined, the mixture is heated in a high-temperature oven until it reaches over degrees! The temperature is so extreme that the silica sand is melted into a liquid, which will inevitably harden into the glass we use every day. 

There are a few different procedures that could be used to shape the glass into different products, it could be blown by hand or by machine, poured into a mold, or what is called float glass.

&#;

&#;

Blown Glass

Blown glass is typically reserved for art or customized pieces, but some machines also function to blow glass in a larger production process. 

Hand-blown ornate designs are more intricate, and require a human touch, making them more desirable and slightly less common than regularly manufactured glass. In this process, the &#;gob&#; or a large liquid sphere of glass, is attached to the end of a metal rod called a blowpipe, the glassblower then uses the pipe like a straw to blow air into the glass. 

After the glass expands with the air, it is manipulated using heat-resistant tools such as tweezers. The glass is often reheated and re-blown until the proper shape is achieved, adding in other colored glass to adjust the design. 

The final product is then set by placing it in a kiln, typically regulated at around 900 degrees. This allows the glass to slowly cool, preventing damage and ensuring its quality.

&#;

&#;

Glass Molds

Molds are a more common form of glass manufacturing and use similar methods as blowing. Professional glassblowers will occasionally use molds for their products, but not as frequently as blown glass. While both blowing and molded glass can be made by machine, it is more commonplace to see molds produced this way. 

In this process, a gob is cut by a timed blade to be moved to the formation machine. 

Next, the machine uses the press and blow method to shape the glass in a specific mold, using gravity and blowing hot air into the gob simultaneously. This forces the glass into the corners of the mold.

The mold is then removed and the glass is reheated at a lower temperature. Lowering the temperature means the glass is gradually cooled to treat and finalize the product. 

&#;

&#;

Float Glass

The last option for processing glass is what is called the float glass method. This approach is used primarily for larger slabs of glass such as windows or building materials. Using the float glass process creates a distortion-free slab that can be cut into smaller pieces, perfect for mass production units. 

The molten glass is laid out on a large slab of tin, a material that repels glass&#;think of oil and water, the same idea applies here. The glass is floating above the tin and spread evenly across the surface, during which the temperature is regulated until it can be slowly cooled over time. 

All glass takes time to cool, which is why they are such stable materials. Compared to other methods, floating is the youngest process in glassmaking, as it was discovered just 70 years ago in the s! It&#;s pretty remarkable that millions of years after the discovery of glass, we are still learning new ways to produce this adaptable resource.

&#;

&#;

The Potential of Glass
&#;

While there are different types of processes to produce glass, the product remains the same: an inorganic, solid material, impervious to natural elements. This final product can be repurposed and recycled indefinitely, creating new uses with every new product. So when we break glass, it is not a lost product, but instead the potential for something brand new.

Glass is an exciting material because with glass comes endless possibilities. The curbside recycling system only recycles about 24%2 of glass&#; and glass that does not get recycled will stay in a landfill for one million years! 

Glass should always be recycled because these materials are invaluable resources, and the Lasso is doing just that! 

Want more information on glass sand? Feel free to contact us.

&#;

Stay in the loop &#;&#; for recycling knowledge simplified & to get notified when the Lasso will launch near you!

&#;

&#;

#recyclingrevolution

&#;

&#;

&#;

Sources:
1. https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/plant-facility-equipment/soda-lime-glass/
2. https://www.gpi.org/glass-recycling-facts

&#;

What Is Silica Sand & How Is It Different From Regular Sand?

In this post we&#;re going to answer three common questions about silica sand:

• What is silica sand?
• How is silica sand different from regular sand?
• What is silica sand used for?

If you want to jump right into what silica sand is used for, here are seven of the most common uses for silica sand in :

1. Golf courses & sports fields
2. Industrial abrasives
3. Filtration media
4. Glassmaking
5. Paints & coatings
6. Ceramics
7. Construction materials

Let&#;s get started!

What Is Silica Sand?

Silica sand, also known as quartz sand, white sand, or industrial sand, is made up of two main elements: silica and oxygen. Specifically, silica sand is made up of silicon dioxide (SiO2).

The most common form of SiO2 is quartz &#; a chemically inert and relatively hard mineral. SiO2 grades at a 7 out of 10 on Mohs hardness scale, making it ideal for use as filtration media and abrasive blasting sands.

Although quartz is often white or colourless, it can come in a wide range of shades. The colour of each sand deposit depends largely on the variety of minerals and rock detritus that make up the resource.

In order to be considered a silica sand the material must contain at least 95% SiO2 and less than 0.6% iron oxide. If the sand does not meet this criteria, it will qualify as what&#;s often called &#;regular&#; sand.

How Silica Sand Is Different From Regular Sand

Regular sand, also known as feldspathic sand, brown sand, or construction sand, will always contain some silica, but only in amounts less than 95%. For example, typical brown sand used for concrete applications can contain up to 80% SiO2, along with varying amounts of iron, carbonate, potassium, and other trace elements/minerals.

These &#;impurities&#; make regular sand more chemically reactive and often darker in colour when compared to silica sand. The color for non-silica sands (regular sands) can be various shades white, pink, green, and black as well &#; depending on the geological makeup and geographic location of the sand deposit.

Image Source

What Is Silica Sand Used For?

There are a number of different uses for silica sand in the industrial and commercial sectors, from golf courses to glassmaking. Silica sand is a commercial and consumer product that is widely available throughout North America.

How silica sand is used depends on physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics such as grain size, shape, colour, structure, and distribution, as well as refractoriness, strength and stability. These characteristics can differ depending on how the mineral is processed after it is mined.

Here are seven common uses for silica sand in :

1. Golf Courses & Sports Fields

Silica sand is used for bunkers and greens on golf courses, as well as for natural and synthetic sports fields. Those sand traps you find yourself stuck in way too often when you&#;re playing eighteen are usually full of silica sand. It&#;s also used to maintain greens and fairways because of its ability to support drainage and natural plant growth. For turf fields, silica sand is used as the main structural component of an uncontaminated filtration media.

2. Industrial Abrasives

Silica sand is commonly used as a mineral abrasive for industrial blasting. Though blasting with silica sand can create dangerous dust, exposure is easily avoided by following recommended PPE (personal protective equipment) guidelines and/or by coating the sand with solutions designed to control dust.

3. Water Filtration

One of the most common uses of silica sand is in water filtration, whether processing well water or filtering your tap water. Because of its uniform shape and size, silica sand is an effective filtration bed that consistently removes contaminants from water. Also, it does not degrade when exposed to acidic chemicals.

Image Source

4. Glassmaking

Silica sand is a major ingredient in the production of glassmaking&#;in fact, silica is the primary component in standard glass products ranging from windows to beer bottles. The purity of the silica sand used plays a role in determining the color, strength and clarity of the final product.

5. Paints & Coatings

Silica sand is used in paints and coatings to improve the overall look and durability of the paint. Silica fillers improve paint&#;s tint reduction and dirt resistance, and because of silica sand&#;s oil-absorption properties it makes a durable coating that&#;s rich in pigment and resistant to wear and tear.

6. Ceramics & Refractories

Silica is an important component in the construction and glazing of all types of ceramics including tableware, floor tiles, wall tiles, and more. Silica serves as the structural backbone of ceramic products helping to regulate expansion and shrinkage, ensuring ceramics dry properly, and improving the overall durability of the ceramic items.

7. Construction Materials

Silica sand (often called industrial sand when used for this purpose) is the main structural component in a number of construction products. Flooring, mortars, cement, roofing shingles, asphalt, and other industrial materials all use silica to improve durability and structural integrity. As silica is resistant to weather, wear and corrosion, it is often used as a caulk or sealant.

Silica sand has a range of uses in everyday life across multiple industries.

If you want to learn more, or if you&#;re interested in ordering silica sand, get in touch with Shaw Resources today to request a quote.

The company is the world’s best 80 grit glass beads supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.