The invention of 'Glass' (Vicky)

According to Martin (2001) ‘glass can generally be divided into two groups: oxide glass and non-oxide glass. The ingredients of oxide glasses include oxides (chemical compounds that include oxygen). Non-oxide glasses are made from compounds that contain no oxides, and which often instead contain sulfides or metals. Oxide glasses are much more widely used commercially’. The common types of glass and their chemical composition can be found at: http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/composition_of_Glass.htm. 

The predominant ingredient used to manufacture glass is sand. Sand occurs naturally on earth by the disintegration of rock and mineral particles. The main component of each grain of sand is typically silicon dioxide and the presence of silicon (Si) on Earth occurred by falling meteorites known as aerolites. The chemical compound silicon dioxide, commonly known as silica (SiO2) is the oxide of silicon.  

The British Glass Manufacturer’s Confederation (2011) describes on their website how glass is manufactured:

Glass is made by melting together several minerals at very high temperatures. Silica in the form of sand is the main ingredient and this is combined with soda ash and limestone and melted in a furnace at temperatures of 1700°C. Other materials can be added to produce different colours or properties. Glass can also be coated, heat-treated, engraved or decorated. Whilst still molten, glass can be manipulated to form packaging, car windscreens, glazing or numerous other products. Depending on the end use, the composition of the glass and the rate at which it is allowed to cool will vary, as these two factors are crucial in obtaining the properties the glassmaker is seeking to achieve.

Key dates in the history of glass production:

Earliest  origins        Historians have discovered that a form of natural glass - obsidian - formed for instance,within the mouth of a volcano as a result of the intense heat of an eruption melting sand - was first used by man as tips for spears.

4000 BC (Egypt)        Evidence of man-made glass in the form of glazes used for coating stone beads. 

1500 BC                     The first hollow glass container was made by covering a sand core with a layer of molten glass.

43 AD – 410 AD         The secret of glass making came to Britain with the Romans! 

680 AD                         Evidence of a glass industry around Jarrow and Wearmouth.

13th Century AD     Evidence of there having been a glass industry in the Weald and the afforested area of Surrey and Sussex around Chiddingford.

1845 AD                 The modern glass industry really started to develop in Britain after the repeal of the Excise Act in 1845 relieved the heavy taxation that had been enforced. 

1851 AD                   Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851 marked the beginning of the discovery of glass as a building material. The revolutionary new building encouraged the use of glass in public, domestic and horticultural architecture. 

1887 AD                Glass making developed from traditional mouth blowing to a semi-automatic process.

1907 AD                  First fully automated machine was developed in America.

Recycling glass has a positive impact on the environment as it takes less energy to melt recycled glass than it does to melt down raw materials. Recycling also reduces the need for raw materials to be quarried therefore saving precious resources.

References:

The British Glass Manufacturer’s Confederation. (2011) About glass. Available at: http://www.britglass.org.uk/ (Accessed 4 February 2012).

Emsley, J. (2003) Nature’s building blocks an A-Z guide to the elements. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Martin, S. (2001) Glass facts composition of glass. Available at: http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/composition_of_Glass.htm (Accessed: 4 February 2012).