SKU3073 Chemistry

Semester 1 2020/2021

EXPERIMENT 10

GLASS BLOWING

10.1 OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this experiment, students should be able to:

1. blow simple glassware (e.g. dropper and test tube)

10.2 INTRODUCTION

There are thousands of different glass types available on the market today. The most common
glasses found in the laboratory are borosilicates (trade names, Pyrex® and Kimble® KG33), soft
glass (trade names: Exax®, Kimax®, Corex®, etc.) and Quartz. The most common laboratory
glass available before 1920 was soft glass (commonly called soda glass, or soda lime glass).
The following are the chemical and physical properties of some common glasses.

10.2.1 Properties of common glass

Source: Wheeler & Roeger. Scientific Glassblowing Class. Arizona State University. Retrieved
from http://www.public.asu.edu/~aomdw/GLASS/book.pdf

Table 10.1 Properties of soda glass, Pyrex® and quartz

Properties Types of glass

Soda glass Pyrex® Quartz

Chemical Silica 70.5 % 74.3 % 99.8 %

properties
Alumina 2.6 % 2.0 % -

Calcium oxide 5.7 % 0.2 % -

Magnesium oxide 2.9 % - -

Sodium oxide 16.3 % 4.5 % -

Potassium oxide 1.2 % 2.0 % -

Boric oxide 0.5 % 17.0 % -

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

Sulfur trioxide 0.2 % - -

Misc. - - 0.2 %

Physical Linear expansion 92 32 5

Properties coefficient (x 10-7)

Strain point 475 °C 510 °C 1070 °C

Annealing point 510 °C 553 °C 1140 °C

Softening point 696 °C 819 °C 1650 °C

10.2.2 Identifying unknown glass

We can use physical test to identify types of glass by visual observation of the glass. Table 10.2
shows some characteristics of each glass.

Source: Wheeler & Roeger. Scientific Glassblowing Class. Arizona State University. Retrieved
from http://www.public.asu.edu/~aomdw/GLASS/book.pdf

Table 10.2 Characteristics of glasses

Characteristics Types of glass

Soft glass Pyrex® Quartz

Colour at the end of Yellow/green Green White to light blue

the tube

When heated Glass will give a Glass will give a No sodium glare will
strong sodium glare strong sodium glare be present, a bright
white light will be
given off

Surface finish Smooth and free of Smooth and free of Rough or show tool
bubbles and bubbles and marks
imperfections imperfections

Rate of fire polish Fire polishes very When fire polished, it -

rapidly when heated takes a moderate
in a neutral flame time to flow

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

10.2.3 Hand torch

There are many other models of burners and torches available to the glassblower. Their different
body characteristics and flame determine the application in the glassblowing field. Torches
(handheld) may be used as burners by hanging or attaching them to some sort of fixture. This
fixture may be something simple like a ring-stand and clamp assembly or a custom-made unit
that will hold the torch in a secure and safe manner. Figure 8.1 shows custom hand torch holder.

Exploded view notched tip to hold torch

rod

Hand torch

Heavy base plate to

support torch and gas,
oxygen lines

Gas and oxygen lines are below bench top

Figure 10.1 Custom hand torch holder

10.2.3.1 Light up

1. Make sure gas delivery systems are in safe operating condition. Set regulators at 10 psi
oxygen and 5 psi gas.

2. Open gas valve full turn to remove air from the tube and then quickly close valve.

3. Repeat step 2 with the oxygen.

4. Open gas valve approximately 1/4 turn - ignite gas with flint lighter.

5. The torch is now lit! Adjust the gas valve to produce a flame about 3/4" height. This is
known as a pilot flame.

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

10.2.3.2 Adjusting Flame Size

1. Gas first - open valve to produce a flame about 6" height (about the length of your hand).
The flame is still attached to the torch tip. If there is space greater than 1/8" between the
torch tip and the flame, adjust the gas valve until the flame reattaches to the torch tip.

2. Open the oxygen valve slowly. Observe the shape, velocity and heating characteristics
of the flame.

3. Practice flame control by changing the settings on the oxygen and gas valves. Create the
smallest flame possible, using an inch-long flame as a target. Now try to create the largest
flame possible. Try different tip sizes to observe the flame size range each produces.
Figure 10.2 shows flame size guide.

Sharp- Intense Flame

Used to heat concentrated areas. Ideal flame to use when

working out seals in small tubing. Flame characteristics:
crisp hissing sound, extremely sharp inner and outer
flame cones.

Sharp- Flame

Versatile flame used for many applications. Primary flame

style used in most seals. Inner and outer flame cones
slightly broader than sharp – intense flame.

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

Soft- Annealing Flame

Used in pre-heating and annealing glass apparatus during

fabrication and repair inner and outer flame cones are
broad with little or no sound relative to the sharp and sharp-
intense flames.

Figure 10.2 Relative flame size guide

10.2.3.3 Shutting Down the Gas Delivery System

1. Close valve at the gas source.

2. Open valves at the torch and burn off released gas.

3. Back off pressure adjusting screw at the regulator(s).

10.2.4 Cutting glass

Glass rod and tubing come in four (4) foot lengths and metric diameters. So the glass rod can
be cut into smaller size. There are different ways to cut the glass.

1. Option 1

a) Make a scratch on the glass wall surface by drawing the corner of a file or tungsten
carbide knife perpendicularly across the glass tube (Figure 10.3).

Figure 10.3 Make scratch on the glass

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

b) Pick up the glass tube and wet the scratch with water.

c) Place your thumbs on the glass tube (Figure 10.4). Place the scratch between the
thumbs but on the opposite side of the glass tube.

d) Push your thumbs away from you. The tube should break evenly at the scratch.

Figure 10.4 Place thumbs on the glass tube

2. Option 2

a) Hold glass tubing in one hand.

b) Hold tungsten carbide knife in vertical position with another hand. Place glass tubing
between the knife and your thumb, hold horizontally and close to your body for
stability and support.

c) Twist hand with knife to create scratch.

d) Break tubing following step (d) in Option 1.

10.2.5 Rotating tubing

Uniform rotation of glass during heating and blowing is important to obtain an evenly distributed
wall thickness. If you stop rotating while heating glass tubing in the flame, it will sag or thicken
on one side. Only even and continuous rotation can produce smooth and even seals. The
procedures of rotating glass tubing are as below:

a) Grasp the glass tubing with both hands and hold horizontally.

b) Support the tubing in the left hand with the last three fingers (Figure 10.5). The thumb
and forefinger are used to rotate the glass tubing.

c) Hold the glass tubing between the forefinger and the thumb with the right palm faces up
(Figure 10.6). The other fingers are arranged so that at least one finger is under the glass
tube and is ready to support it when the finger and thumb release their hold and take a
new hold on the tube.

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

d) You must synchronize the movements of right and left-hand to prevent twisting of the
glass tubing in the heated zone. Proper rotation method for both hands is shown by
Figure 10.7.

Figure 10.5 Support glass tubing with three left fingers

Figure 10.6 Hold tubing between the right forefinger and the thumb

Figure 10.7 Proper rotation method for both hands

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

10.2.6 Fire polish tube ends

The cutting point at the glass tubing will cause sharp end when the glass tubing is cut into small
portion. The glassblowers will cut the lips if they blow into the sharp ends of the glass tubing.
Hence, it is important to fire polish the sharp ends of the glassware. Fire polishing is
accomplished by rotating the sharp end of glass tubing in the flame near the outer edge (Figure
10.8). Heat the glass until the edges flow into the hemisphere shape on the end. Do not heat to
the point of constricting the diameter of the tube. Flame anneals each seal.

(Source: Wheeler, E.L. (2002). Manual of Scientific Glassblowing. British Society of Scientific
Glassblowers)

Figure 10.8 Hold the glass tube in a declining or horizontal position with the tube end angled
away from you

(Source: Wheeler, E.L. (2002). Manual of Scientific Glassblowing. British Society of Scientific
Glassblowers)

Figure 10.9 A good fire polish has a smooth finish and the ID and OD of the glass tube remains
unchanged

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

10.2.7 Pulling points

Points are elongations on the ends of tubing, formed by pulling the tube to a small diameter.
They form convenient handles for holding short pieces of tubing, as well as providing a means
for closing the tube. Correct procedures (Figure 10.10) to pull a point are as below:

a) Rotate the tube in the flame to heat a length of about 2 times the diameter.

b) Remove the glass from the flame when the glass has become pliable, and pull
slowly the glass to a length of about 4-5” while still rotating.

c) Make sure that the resulting “points” have the same axis as the original tube.

d) Flame anneals each seal.

Figure 10.10 Pulling point

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

10.2.8 Round bottoms

The round bottom is made using one of the points that have been made. Procedures are as
below (Figure 10.11):

a) Place the diameter in the left hand and the point in the right hand.

b) Heat the junction of the point in the flame and draw it away slowly.

c) Burn the point through in the flame and remove it.

d) With the tube end sealed, rotate down and into the flame to gather the glass. The glass
will thicken as you are heating.

e) After sufficient heating, remove it from the flame while still rotating,.

f) Turn the end of the tube up and blow lightly into the open end of the tube. Blow just hard
enough to shape the molten glass into a hemisphere on the end of the tube. Repeat this
step until the round bottom is formed. Make sure you get an even wall thickness (Figure
10.12).

g) Flame anneals each seal.

Figure 10.11 Round bottom

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

Figure 10.12 Wall thickness guide

Apparatus

Hand torch

File or glass knife

Tweezers

Glassblowing glass

.
 SKU3073 Chemistry
Semester 1 2020/2021

10.3 PROCEDURE

1. Produce a dropper and boiling tube by applying the techniques of cutting glass, rotating
tubing, fire polish tube ends, pulling points and round bottoms.

2. Submit the glassware you have produced together with the laboratory report.

10.4 QUESTIONS

1. Three most common glasses found in the laboratory are soda glass, borosilicate and
Quartz. (True / False)

2. When fire polished, soft glass takes a longer time to flow than Pyrex®. (True / False)

3. The hand torch operates with a fuel gas (natural gas, propane, or hydrogen) and
compressed air. (True / False)

4. Grasp the tubing with both hands and hold horizontally when rotating the glass tubing.
(True / False)

5. Fire polishing the ends of glass tubing and rod will seal small cracks in the end wall,
reducing the chance of fractures originating from this source. (True / False)

10.5 REFERENCES

1. Wheeler & Roeger. Scientific Glassblowing Class. Arizona State University. Retrieved
from http://www.public.asu.edu/~aomdw/GLASS/book.pdf

2. Wheeler, E.L. (2002). Manual of Scientific Glassblowing. British Society of Scientific

Glassblowers