Glass is everywhere around us. Not a single day passes in our lives where we don’t get in direct or indirect contact with the glass. From our cell phones to wall clocks, blenders to ovens, and windows to vehicles. Everything has glass in them in one form or the other. We live in a world of glass. But how did it all start? From where did it begin? That’s the question that we are addressing today.
Glass has a rich history. It has been in use since the very start of civilization. The glass industry has evolved considerably over time. Let’s discuss how the glass industry reached where it is today!
The natural glass
A long, long time ago when we were not even aware of glass, the nature was producing it for use. Glass was produced from molten lava. The natural glass or Obsidian was the volcanic glass. It produced naturally when lava cools off quickly on reaching the water or earth’s surface. Huge amounts of silica sand in the lava were responsible for the formation of natural glass. The pre-historic men used he amorphous obsidian in arrowheads and daggers. Obsidian is not an obsolete material. It is used in surgical instruments to this day.
The man-made glass
When we say glass has always been there, we mean it!
According to archeological findings, the glass-making practice dates back to 3000 BC. It was mostly produced in the form of beads and hollow glass. The glass-producing techniques were terribly slow and helter-skelter.
A relatively big revolution came with the invention of Blowpipe in the 1st century BC, in Syria. The blowpipe method remained mainstream for glass production for around 2000 years. This method was a great breakthrough for the people of that time. But it’s still painfully slow as compared to modern glass production. So we’ll skip over the part and jump right where glass history makes some serious progress. The 1600s onwards, that is!
Glassmaking information
- The 1600s
The method of glass production evolved in the mid-1600s. “Broad Glass Method” was introduced. Long glass cylinders blown, slit, and unrolled into almost flat rectangles. These rectangular sheets were then polished on both sides.
- The 1800s
Until the 1800s, there was no major progress in the glass history. The glass production go on through the same broad glass method. Some changes were made in the method, though.
By the late 1800s, some additives were discovered. The manufacturer used these additives in the glass manufacture. After adding the additives, special ovens were used to reheat the glass. The heat preserved the polished feel.
In 1871, William Pilkington made a notable glass-related invention. He invented the machine to produce larger sheets of glass.
- The 1900s
The main glass producing method in the 1900s was the “Sheet Glass Method”. In this method, ribbons of glass drew between the cooled rollers from a tank furnace. It was somewhat an advanced method but still imperfect.
- The 2000s, an era of innovations in glass history!
In the 2000s, the glass industry revolutionized. The credits go to the introduction of the “Float Glass Process”. In 1959, Alistar presented the float glass method. The Float Glass Method changed the course of glass history.
In this process, manufacturers melt the glass at a very high temperature. It is then poured onto a large shallow bath of molten metal to cool off. The molten glass spreads on the flat surface and forms sheets. This method is inexpensive and viable as compared to all other previous methods. So it quickly became popular among the manufacturers. This method is still in-use in glass production today. More than 90 percent of the world’s glass is made through this float glass method.
Modern glass production
Modern glass production is based on the float glass method. It is a pretty versatile method. Different types of glass are produced these days. Through making small changes in the same old float glass method. With the right glass-making information, the industry evolved in a very short time. The last few years are known as the pinnacle of glass history.
The right glass-making information has revolutionized the glass industry. We started off with the brittle, breakable, and delicate glass sheets. Now we are producing bullet-proof glass. The extensive glass knowledge has led to the invention of new additives. These additives give extra strength to the glass. Improved methods have sped up modern glass production.
Mirrors are also produced from the same float glass method. Add silverback paint to the float glass and you will get a mirror. Super-heat the glass sheets and cool them off quickly. You will achieve high-strength tempered glass. Similarly, add two or more glass sheets and produce unbreakable laminated glass. It all goes back to the same origin – the float glass method that is!
Some final thoughts!
The origins of glassmaking go back to prehistoric times. This justifies that glass is one of the most valued materials on the planet today. The glass industry has come a long way. From naturally produced super-brittle glass to impact-resistant glass. The Glass industry has evolved big time. The future of the glass industry is even brighter!
