Glass

Composition Properties History Production

What is Glass? Glass is a state of matter, not a substance. Glass combines some properties of crystals and some of liquids but is distinctly different from both. Glass has the mechanical rigidity of crystals, but the random disordered arrangement of molecules that characterizes liquids. Glass are usually formed by melting crystalline materials at very high temperatures. When the melt cools, the atoms are locked into a random (disordered) state before they can form into a perfect crystal arrangement.

What is in glass? Silica (sand) Anhydrous Boric Acid Anhydrous Phosphoric Acid These include: Soda Ash Potash Lithium Carbonate Limestone Litharge Alumina Magnesia Barium Carbonate Strontium Carbonate Zinc Oxide Zirconia

Properties of Glass When created properly, glass can be: Strong resists breaking when it has few surface imperfections & is cooled slowly Hard surface resists scratches and abrasions. Elastic gives under stress - up to a breaking point - but rebounds exactly to its original shape. Chemical Corrosion-Resistant Thermal Shock- Resistant Heat-Absorbent Optical Properties Electrical Insulating

The History of Glass –When it was discovered –How it was discovered –Where it was discovered –What its first uses were

Discovery Natural glass, obsidian, is formed by volcanoes and has been used since the stone age for tools Glass was discovered by accident as part of the copper smelting process in 1000 b.c. in Phoenicia (modern day Lebanon) Glass was first used as beads in jewelry

Ancient Glass vs. Modern Glass The chemical composition of glass has not changed much since ancient times

In Ancient Rome… Glass was so precious, the emperor Nero paid $500 dollars for one goblet!

The Island of Murano, Italy During 13 th century Venice became the center of glassblowing. For safety, and to keep the process secret, the furnaces were moved to the Island of Murano, off the coast of Venice

Millefiori – A thousand Flowers

Renaissance to Modern Day Glassblowing was a dying Art. Mechanized processes overtook the hand- blown quality of the art During the 1960’s there was a rebirth of the Art Glass movement. Art Glass is increasingly popular since that time.

Dale Chihuly a modern master

“Teamwork suits me. This is the way artists like Michelangelo worked.” Dale Chihuly

Venetian Vases With the assistance of Lino Tagliapietra United States, Seattle, Washington, 1988 Blown and hot- worked H (tallest) 44.9 cm

Learning to Blow Glass A glassblower is also called a “gaffer”

Materials Glass “cullet” is melted in the furnace Frit – different shapes and colors of glass added for interest, color and texture

Tools The “punti” a long steel rod used to manipulate the glass The “blow pipe” used to actually blow the glass Molds – used for shaping the glass

The Finished Products

Where can I go to learn to blow glass? Belle Meade Hot Glass – Belle Meade, NJ Hot Soup – Philadelphia, PA Corning Glass Museum – Corning, NY Glassblowing.com – Poughkeepsie, NY

Resources &FrameID=Ac164273closmille

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