MAJOR GLASS TYPES AND THEIR USES

Glass Type
Soda lime

Properties
Inexpensive; easy to
melt and shape; most
widely used glass

Lead glass (often 20

30% Pb oxide)

High density; brilliant;

very easy to melt,
shape, cut, and engrave
Very good thermal shock
resistance and chemical
durability; easy to melt
and shape
Excellent thermal
resistance; durability
Outstanding thermal
resistance

Borosilicate (usually 5
13% B2O3 )

Aluminosilicate (usually
510% Al2O3 )
High silica (Vycor
96.5%; fused quartz
100%)

Limitations
Poor durability; not
chemically resistant;
poor thermal shock
resistance
Poor durability; easily
scratched

Uses
Windows; bottles; light
bulbs; jars

Not suitable for longterm high temperature

use

Labware; kitchenware;
special light bulbs; glass
pipe; sealed beam
headlights
Top-of-stove cookware;
high quality fiberglass
Spacecraft windows;
labware; fiber optics

More difficult to melt and

shape than borosilicate
Difficult to make; very
expensive

Fine crystal radiation

windows; TV tube parts