PROPERTIES

OF GLASS

Renzo John A. Sarimos

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

DENSITY - 2500 kg/m3. A 4mm thick pane of glass weighs 10kg/m

REFRACTIVE INDEX n = 1.52

If light from an optically less dense medium (air) meets an optically denser
medium (glass), then the light ray is split at the surface interfaces. The measure
of deflection determines the refractive index. For float glass, this refractive index
is n=1.52.

THERMAL EXPANSION Glasses have low thermal expansion than any metals
(0 5 x in./in.F) steel = 6 x in./in.F

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY Low thermal conductivity (3 to 10 x cal cm/s C)

compared to metals (steel is 0.1 cal cm/s C)

MELTING POINT - Contrary to solid bodies of crystalline structure, glass has no

defined melting point. It continuously transforms from the solid state to the
viscous plastic state. The transition range is called the transformation range and
according to DIN 52324 (ISO 7884), it lies between 520C and 550C. Tempering
and bending require a temperature of a further 100C.

SPECIFIC HEAT - 0.8 J/g/K The specific heat (in joules) defines the amount of
heat required to raise the temperature of 1g of float glass by 1K. The specific
heat of glass increases slightly the temperature is increased up to the
transformation range.

ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY Glasses are good electrical insulator (cm and

higher)

POISSONs RATIO - (lateral contraction coefficient): is 0.22.

When a sample is stretched under mechanical stress a decrease in its cross-

section is observed. Poissons ratio () is the relation between the unit decrease
 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the effort and the unit strain in the
direction of the effort. For glass in buildings, the value of coefficient is 0.22.

VISCOSITY

Working point: viscosity = (. At this temperature glass fabrication operation can

be carried out.

Softening point: viscosity = (. At this temperature the viscosity of the glass is

low enough that the glass slump at its own weight.

Annealing point: viscosity = (. Internal stress can be relieved at this

temperature.

Strain point: viscosity = (. below this temperature the glass is rigid, and stress
relaxation occurs only at a slow rate. The interval between the annealing and
strain points is commonly considered the annealing range of glass.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:

HARDNESS - Glasses are harder than any metals (400 to 600 kg/mm)

DUCTILITY Glasses have low ductility, they are brittle.

MODULUS OF ELASTICITY 9 to 11 X psi. Glass is a perfectly elastic

material: it does not exhibit permanent deformation, until breakage. However it is
fragile, and will break without warning if subjected to excessive stress.

BENDING STRENGTH - 45 MPa The bending strength of a material is a

measure of its resistance during deflection. It is determined by bending tests on
glass plate using the double ring method

TENSILE STENGTH Glasses have tensile strength predominantly in the range

of 4 to 10 ksi (27 to 69 MPa)

YOUNGs MODULUS - E = 7 x Pa / 70 GPa

This modulus expresses the tensile force that would theoretically have to be
applied to a glass sample to stretch it by an amount equal to its original length. It
 is expressed as a force per unit area. For glass, in accordance with European
standards:

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH: 1000 N/mm = 1000 MPa

The compressive strength of glass is extremely high. This means that to shatter a
1 cm cube of glass, it requires a load of some 10 ton.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:

The chemical properties of glass determine its resistance to attack by water,

moisture, acids and alkalis. Different optical glass manufacturers use different
approaches. Glass containing larger amounts of substance such as silicon
dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2) or oxides of the
rare earths, are more resistant to be leached by aqueous and acidic solutions.
They also are usually more resistant to local corrosion. If the glass contains large
quantities of more readily soluble substances such as alkalis, then reactions of
varying degree can be expected depending on the operating conditions. These
reactions are sufficient for layer formation or removal of the glass surface.
SCHOTT uses the following five test methods to assess the chemical behavior of
polished glass surfaces: Climatic resistance, Stain resistance, Acid resistance,
Alkali resistance and Phosphate resistance.

Chemical Resistance against:

Water = class 1 (DIN 52296) highly water resistant

Acid = class 1 (DIN 12116) highly acid resistant

Alkaline = class 2 (DIN 52322 and ISO 695) slightly alkali attack

References:

o http://www.saint-gobain-sekurit.com/glossary/introduction-glass
o http://abrisatechnologies.com/2015/04/understanding-the-physical-
properties-of-glass/
o Engineering Materials property and selection by:
Kenneth G. Budinski and Michael K. Budinski

o Foundation of Material Science and Engineering (fifth edition)

by: William F. Smith and Javad Hashemi
o http://www.pmoptics.com/glass_chemical_property.html