Many of us know that glass is a very important ingredient for building various things and it is also included in almost every product that we make. See the things around you in your house and you will find glass in tableware, bulbs, tube lights, chandelier, mirrors, windows and the list goes on and on. However, how have we considered a glass, as our friend or an enemy? Read on further to know what we should consider it as.
How is a glass developed in a scientific manner?
It is very easy to know what a glass Adelaide is but have we ever thought how it is made up of. It is a combination of three important substances like silica, which is white sand, alkali known as sodium bicarbonate and limestone. All these three substances are used to make a glass and sometimes even metallic oxide is added to this mix. Depending on the type of alkali that you use, it is then decided if the lead has to be included or not. Lead is usually added to give the glass more clarity and change the color cast of the glass. The expense of developing a glass is based on few other elements like the type of alkali used and the percentage ratio of silica being used. These two terms help in deciding the cost and expense of a glass.
How much proportion is taken to make a glass?
From the above terms stated, silica, an alkali and limestone are mixed together and then crushed into a form of powder. The powder is then blended and put into a furnace that is extremely heated for nearly 24 hours. This develops molten glass, which is then cooled in hundreds of degrees turning it into a thick liquid. The matter that is resulted is known as frit, which is then blown, pressed, drawn, molded and tolled into glass objects. If the glass has to be shaped then it can be molded again at high temperatures so that when the liquid is poured in, it doesn’t melt the glass or wrinkle it. After a few hours, it is then cooled down naturally using cold water.
How is the environment affected?
The process of developing glasses does affect the environment in many ways. The process of crushing and grinding it releases metals, chemicals, acids and lots of dust in to the air. The ones who inhale this feel an irritation in the throat and nose, which later causes damage to the lungs too. The particles not only affect human beings but also affect the surrounding soil and water. The glass is melted only though high temperatures and makes use of other substances for this process which in turn makes the energy very intensive to use. Around 15.2 billion BTU’s of energy is required to produce just one ton of glass. In addition, discharges from the glass are released into rivers or lakes that poisons the water there. This also makes the cleaning and cooling process of the water difficult when discharges of the glass like sodium sulfate and lubricant oil are mixed in it.
Thus, glass manufacturing processes emit a lot of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and pollute the environment too with elements like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and many more. We know that manufacturing of glass cannot be stopped since it is needed and a beautiful material to use. Hence, it is upon us how we turn the production of glass Adelaide from foe to friend by using environment friendly techniques.
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