Glass and Ceramics
Essay by Adrian Looi • January 30, 2017 • Essay • 757 Words (4 Pages) • 1,206 Views
Introduction
The raw materials for making glass and ceramic are obtained from the Earth’s crust.
The main component of both items is silica/silicon dioxide, .[pic 1]
They both have the same properties: [pic 2]
Hard but brittle
Inert to chemical reactions
Insulators of electricity
Poor conductor of heat[pic 3]
Withstand compression but not tension
Can be easily cleaned
The differences between them:
Glass | Ceramic |
Transparent | Opaque |
Softens when heated | High melting point, hence retains shape when heated |
Impermeable | Usually porous except when glazed |
The uses of glass:
Property | Uses | Examples |
Inert | Household materials | Lamp, bottles, glasses, plates, bowls and kitchen wares |
Transparent | Building materials | Mirrors and window glass |
Industrial materials | Bulbs, glass tubes for radios, radars and televisions | |
Inert and easily cleaned | Scientific apparatus | Lens, burettes, beakers, test tubes, conical flask, glass tubes and prims |
[pic 4]
The uses of ceramics:
Properties | Uses | Examples |
Hard and strong | Building materials | Bricks, tiles and cement |
Long lasting and non-corrosive | Materials for decorative items | Plates, bowls, cooking utensils, porcelain and vases |
Electrical insulators | To make electrical insulating parts | Insulators in toaster and irons, spark plugs in car engines |
Inert and hard | In surgical and dental apparatus | Artificial hands, legs and teeth |
Semiconductor type of ceramics | As microchips | To make microchips in computer, radios and televisions |
[pic 5]
Glass
[pic 6]
Glass is a mixture of two or more types of metallic silicates but the main component is silicon(IV) dioxide.
- Due to the low cost involved to produce glass, it is used in industry to make bottles, cooking utensils, plates and bowls, laboratory apparatus (such as conical flask, beakers and test tubes), window panes, bulbs and others.
- Different types of glass can be obtained depending on the composition of substances in it.
- Fused glass in the simplest type of glass
- Coloured glass is produced by adding traces of transition metal oxides to it.
Types of Glasses
Fused glass
[pic 7]
Properties | Chemical composition | Examples |
Very high softening point (1700˚C), hence highly heat-resistant Transparent to ultraviolet and infrared light Difficult to be made into different shapes Does not crack when temperature changes Very resistant to chemical reactions | (99%)[pic 8] (1%)[pic 9] | Telescope mirrors, lenses, optical fibres and laboratory glass wares |
Soda-lime glass
[pic 10]
Properties | Chemical composition | Examples |
Low softening point (700˚C), hence does not withstand heating Break easily Cracks easily with sudden temperature changes Less resistant to chemical reactions Easy to make into different shapes | (70%)[pic 11] (1%)[pic 12] (10%)[pic 13] (5%)[pic 14] | Bottles, window-panes, light bulbs, mirrors, flat glass, glass-plates and bowls. |
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