MANUFACTURING
PROCESS
OF
GLASS
JOHN CEDRIC CALONGE
ANGELITO PORTILLO
CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Raw materials
• Manufacturing Process
a) Melting and refining
b) Forming and shaping
c) Heat treatment
d) Finishing
• Types of glass
• Safety Protocols
GLASS
Glass is an amorphous,
hard, brittle, transparent, or
translucent super cooled
liquid of infinite viscosity,
having no definite melting
point obtained by fusing a
mixture of a number of
metallic silicates or borates
of Sodium, Potassium, and
Lead.
RAW MATERIALS USED IN GLASS
• Sodium as Na₂CO₃ (used in soft
glass)
• Potassium K₂CO₃ (used in hard
glass)
• Calcium as limestone, chalk and
lime.
• Lead as litharge, red lead (flint
glass).
• Silica arc quartz, white sand and
ignited flint.
• Zinc is zinc oxide (heat and shock
proof glass).
• Borates are borax, Boric acid (heat
and shock proof glass).
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
MELTING AND REFINING
FORMING AND SHAPING
HEAT TREATMENT
FINISHING
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
MELTING AND REFINING
• The mixed batch of raw
materials, along with broken
or reclaimed glass, is fed into
a type of furnace where it
melts and remains molten at
around 1500 degrees.
• Molten glass is drawn
continuously from the
furnace and runs in troughs
to the working area, where it
is drawn off for fabrication at
a temperature of about 1000
deg.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
MELTING AND REFINING
Pot Furnace
• Heated by burning producer
gas and air
• Roof of the pot is constructed
with refractory material
which also reflects the heat
• Also called as “Batch
Process”
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
MELTING AND REFINING
Tank Furnace
• It follows a “regenerative
system of heat economy”.
• The “batch” is melted in the
tank using producer gas and
air.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
FORMING AND SHAPING
• Molten glass is then
worked into articles of decide
shapes by blowing, molding
are by pressing between the
rollers.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
FORMING AND SHAPING
Pressing
• Low-cost fabrication method.
• Used to manufacture table and
ovenware, insulators, lenses, and
reflectors.
• Gobs of glass are fed into molds
on a rotating press.
• The molds are moved beneath a
plunger which forces the glass
into final shape.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
FORMING AND SHAPING
Glass Blowing
• Used to produced hollow
products.
• Molten glass in ribbon form sags
through holes as air is blown on
form above
• More puffs of air forces glass
into the mould to form final
shape.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
HEAT TREATMENT
ANNEALING
• When glass cools form
the forming range to room
temperature, thermal
stresses develop that
adversely affect strength
properties.
• Annealing is done to
eliminate this stress.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
HEAT TREATMENT
TEMPERING
• Involves heating the
glass to around the
softening point and then
cooling it rapidly with
blasts of air or by
quenching it in oil.
GLASS PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
FINISHING GLASS SURFACE
• Hydrofluoric Acid is
used for polishing and
etching.
• Also be stained by copper
and silver compounds.
• Ferric or Cerium oxides are
used to produce smooth,
accurately finished
surfaces.
TYPES OF GLASSES
Soda-lime or Soft glass
• Raw materials are silica, CaCO₃,
and soda ash.
• Properties are low cost, resistant
to water, attacked by acids, melts
easily, molded easily to any shape,
poor thermal & chemical
resistance.
• Uses: window glasses, electric
bulbs, bottles, jars, table wares
etc.
TYPES OF GLASSES
Potash-lime or Hard glass
• Raw materials are silica, CaCO₃,
and K₂.CO₃.
• Properties are high melting
point, not attacked by acids, alkali
and other solvents, and costlier
than soda-lime glass.
• Uses: combustion tubes, chemical
apparatus.
TYPES OF GLASSES
Lead glass or Flint glass
• Raw materials are silica, lead
oxide, potassium oxide.
• Properties are bight, lustrous and
possesses high specific gravity,
expensive to manufacture, higher
effective index and excellent
electrical properties.
• Uses: high quality table wares, neon
sign tubings, optical lenses and high
dense glasses..
TYPES OF GLASSES
Pyrex-glass or Jena glass
• Raw materials are silica, small
amount of alumina, and some
oxides.
• Properties are high softening
point and excellent resistivity
(shock proof)
• Uses: industrial pipeline for
corrosive liquids, gauge glasses,
superior laboratory apparatus etc.
TYPES OF GLASSES
Alumina Silicate glass
• Raw materials are 5% more of
alumina (for heat resistant).
• Properties are exceptionally high
softening temperature, chemically
durable, resistance to hydrolysis, and
affected by moisture due to high
surface area.
• Uses: high pressure mercury
discharge tubes, chemical combustion
tubes, fibre glass.
TYPES OF GLASSES
Optical glass
• Raw materials are phosphorous
and lead silicate with small amount
of cerium oxide.
• Properties are low melting point,
soft, chemical-resistance, durability
lesser than ordinary glass, and
absorbs UV light.
• Uses: optical lenses
TYPES OF GLASSES
Glass wool
• Raw materials are filaments of
glass measures about 0.0005 to
0.0007 mm in diameter.
• Properties are fireproof and heat
proof, low thermal and electrical
conductivity, resistance to water
and most chemicals, and tensile
strength is 8x of steel.
• Uses: heat, electrical, sound
insulation purposes, filtration of
corrosive liquids.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN GLASS MANUFACTURING
WEAR APPROPRIATE PPE
Cut resistant clothing,
safety glasses, gloves, and
hard hats are essential. Cut
resistant clothing prevents
lacerations, while safety
goggles protect your eyes
from potential glass shards.
SAFETY FIRST!
SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN GLASS MANUFACTURING
USE PROPER HANDLING TOOLS
For heavy or large glass
sheets, always use
equipment like suction cups,
dollies, or glass lifters. Limit
manual handling to smaller
pieces of glass.
SAFETY FIRST!
SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN GLASS MANUFACTURING
INSPECT THE GLASS BEFORE
MOVING
Check for chips,
cracks, or scratches, as
even minor damage can
lead to breakage and
injury.
SAFETY FIRST!
SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN GLASS MANUFACTURING
KEEP YOUR WORKSPACE ORGANIZED
A tidy area reduces
trip hazards. Store glass
upright in appropriate
racks to prevent falling or
damage.
SAFETY FIRST!
THANK YOU
