Some Fun Facts About Glass
You do not have to look hard to find glass in your day to day life, but have you given it much thought? For that matter, do you know its true age or the reason for its peculiar behavior? Or why one piece of glass will crumble into nothing while another turns to dangerous shards?
We at Dove Glass & Mirror have had our hands on all manner of glass and mirror over the decades and in the process have come by some facts we are fond of sharing. We have been in the Menifee, CA area since 1989 and we still have an enthusiasm for the material. Should you have any questions about glass, put us on the phone at (704)-396-5381.
Most folks take glass for granted. Yet a bit of knowledge can change how you view even a simple window.
An Older Material Than You Would Imagine
Glass making is an art with a history of thousands of years. Long before there were modern factories the ancients were at it; in what is today the Middle East you can find glass objects from as far back as 3500 BC.
Then again, nature was producing glass of a sort before man ever figured out how. A lightning bolt hitting sand will make fulgurite, a rare thing. And volcanoes give us obsidian, a natural glass that early humans put to use as weapons and tools.
A Solid, Not a Liquid
There is a good story to be told about old church windows being thicker at the bottom because the glass has been flowing like a slow liquid for centuries. It is not true, however.
To a scientist glass is an amorphous solid. The molecules are not as orderly as in a crystal, but it is a solid none the less. Any thickness you see in an old window is down to the methods of its manufacture long ago, not because it has melted and run.
Breaking Point
It is something of a surprise to many that how glass is made and treated will dictate how it breaks. In the home or office one is likely to come across:
- Standard annealed glass, which makes sharp shards
- Tempered glass, heat treated for strength so it shatters into small, blunt pieces
- Laminated glass with a plastic interlayer to hold things together
- Frosted glass for privacy and to diffuse light
- Tinted to cut down on heat and glare
- Insulated glass with multiple panes for better efficiency
For safety’s sake you will find tempered in car windows and shower doors. A laminated windshield will stay in one piece after a crack appears.
Recycling Without End
Few materials can say what glass can: that it can be recycled time and time around with no loss of quality. That bottle you put in the recycling bin could well be a new one tomorrow and the cycle has no limit.
What Lies Behind a Mirror
Strip away the thin metallic coating on the back of a mirror and you have a clear pane of glass you can see through. The aluminum or silver layer does the reflecting and the glass in front is there to shield it.
From the Sand
Ordinary sand is where you will find the silica that is the essence of glass. Heat it to more than 3000 degrees F and it will melt, then cool to the smooth, transparent substance we are familiar with.
The Local Experts
Dealing with glass requires the proper tools and a deft hand. We have been of service to our neighbors here in Menifee since 1989 and are licensed and insured for your peace of mind. Our 100 percent satisfaction guarantee is no empty promise; with a 5.0 star rating on over 100 Google reviews our clientele would tell you they can rely on us. We are open Monday to Saturday from 7 to 5.
Give us a ring at (704)-396-5381 for a free estimate or if you have a project in the works.
