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GLASS

Glass has been extensively used in building construction since long for glazing doors and windows, for insulation and for decoration. Rapid advances in glass technology have opened up newer avenues of its use in the construction industry

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS The glass is obtained by fusion of silica, chalk (lime) and potash or soda at over 1000C. In order to modify its properties of hardness, brilliance and colour other ingredients like iron oxide, lead oxide, borax etc. are added in varying proportions. Functions of the various important constituents of glass are discussed below: i. Silica: It is the main constituent of all kinds of glass. Since it fuses at very high temperatures some alkaline admixture like sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate is added to it so as to make it fuse at lower temperatures. The admixtures added to lower the fusion temperature also make the liquid silica more viscous and better workable. ii. iii. iv. v. Potash: This renders glass infusible and gives fire resisting properties to it. Soda: It quickens fusion of glass and as such excess of it is harmful. Lime: It imparts durability and toughness to glass. Lead oxide: It gives colour to glass and therefore its presence in glass is not much desirable. vi. Cullet: It is broken glass of the type desired to be manufactured that is added to the raw materials to bring down cost of production.

MANUFACTURE All the constituents of glass (silica, potash, soda, lime, lead oxide and cutlet) are separately ground, sieved and mixed in definite proportions. The mix is then fused in a tank furnace or in a pot furnace. The former is used for large scale productions and the latter for smaller productions of superior quality. The charge that is fed at one end of the furnace is continuously taped in molten state at the other end. The molten glass is given the desired shape by any one of the following methods: a. Blowing. The operator dips one end of a blow pipe, 12 mm in diameter and 2 m long, in the molten glass and takes it out. The blow pipe is held vertically on taking it out after a dip. The sticking molten glass lengthens. The operator then blows vigorously in the pipe which results in the sticking

molten glass taking the shape of a hollow ball. When the blown ball cools down then it is reheated and blowing operation repeated. The process is repeated till the articles are ready. b. Flat drawing. Iron rod is dipped into molten glass and moved sideways to form a plate of glass which is then passed between rollers to form glass sheet. c. Rolling. Molten glass is poured over flat iron table which has rollers fitted at one edge. The molten glass is rolled into glass plate. d. Compression moulding. Articles of irregular shape are molded by pressing molten glass into moulds. This gives glass of belter quality. e. Spinning. A machine is used to spin the molten glass. This gives very fine glass fibers. These glass fibers are extremely thin and very strong, do not shrink or expand, are unaffected by water, fire or insects and are used for heat, sound and electricity insulation.

CLASSIFICATION Glass is usually classified into following categories: i. Soda lime glass. It is obtained from the fusion of a mixture of silica, lime, soda and alumina. Powdered glass too may be added. This glass is also termed as Soda-ash glass, Soda glass or Soft glass. It is used for glazing doors, windows, and for making ordinary glass wares. ii. Lead glass. It is obtained from the fusion of a mixture of silica, lead and potash. Powdered glass too may be added. This glass is also termed as flint glass. Lead glass has highly shining appearance and takes good polish. It is not affected by temperature. Cut glass work, electric bulbs and optical glass are made from it. iii. Boro-silicate glass. It is obtained from the fusion of silica, borax, lime and feldspar. Powdered glass too may be added. This glass withstands high temperatures and as such laboratory equipment and cooking utensils are made out of it.

COMMERCIAL FORMS Glass is marketed in various commercial forms to suit varying field requirements. Some important commercial forms of glass are discussed below: i. Sheet glass. This is the variety most extensively used in engineering works. It is available in various thicknesses ranging from 2 mm to 6.5 mm. Following three classes of it are produced: Ordinary Glazing Quality (O.Q). It is used for general glazing.

Selected Glazing Quality (S.Q). It is better than O.Q and is used for better quality work. Special Selected Quality (S.S.Q). It is used for superior quality work as for show cases and cabinet making. It is used for glazing of doors, windows and for partitions. ii. Plate glass. It is made in thicknesses varying from 3 mm to 22 mm and sizes up to 275 cm X 90 cm. It is stronger and more transparent than the sheet glass. It is ground and polished. Following three classes of it are produced: G.G. Quality. Used for cabinets, show cases, shop fronts, counters and shelves. S.G. Quality. Mostly used in making mirrors. S.Q. Quality. Superior quality for high class work. iii. Tempered plate glass. Glass plate is heated and then suddenly cooled to temper it. Tempered glass is much stronger than ordinary glass and is used for glazing entrance doors or in making table tops, shelves, counters etc. etc. iv. Laminated glass. Two or more glass plates, with intervening layers of transparent plastics, are bound under effects of heat and pressure. This type of glass does not fly off in splinters when it breaks. It thus ensures safety at places where glass is liable to shatter. Laminated safety glass used in glazing windows and doors of buildings and land transport available in 4 to 20 mm thickness. v. Wired glass. It is a rough cast translucent glass with special steel wire mesh of 0.46 to 0.56 mm diameter completely embedded between the layers of the glass during the process of its manufacture. It is fire retardant and provides safety in the event of any breakage, wire pieces holding the broken pieces from flying and causing injury. A special annealing process gives the wired glass additional resistance to breakage. It is extensively used for north light glazing (North Light Glazing is used to take natural day light from North side. It saves tremendous energy used in consumption of tube lights etc.), sky lights, glazed partitions, door and windows in buildings. It is used at places where both light and safety are simultaneously required. It is available in 6.4 mm thickness. vi. Insulating glass. Two layers of glass separated by 6 mm to 12 mm of dehydrated air are hermetically sealed to provide heat insulation-and to ensure transmission of light. It is used in glazing doors and windows. vii. Coloured glass. By adding oxides of metals to molten glass, the finished product gets coloured. Coloured glasses are used for decoration work in building construction. Glasses with light tints are used to cut off sun.

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Heat absorbing glass. It has bluish green tinge and cuts off ultra violet rays of sun. It is used in glazing windows of railway carriages and in buildings where heat of sun is desired to be cut. Calorex is a patent product available in market.

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Flint Glass. It is lead glass which shines and takes up good polish. It is used for cut glass work, as optical glass, for making electric bulbs and valves etc.

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Ground glass. One face of plate of sheet glass is made rough by grinding. The idea is to render it translucent so that it transmits light but provides privacy by obstructing vision. It is used for glazing doors and windows of toilets and bed rooms etc.

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Block glass. These are hollow sealed glass blocks made by fastening together two halves of pressed glass. They are made 10 cm thick and 15 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm square in sizes. Their edges are sealed with grit bearing plastic material so that a good bond is provided with mortar. Ribs, flutes or prisms are cast on one or both their faces so as to render them translucent and free from glare. These blocks provide heat and sound proof partitions.

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