Soda Lime Glass Melting Point – A Professional Guide For Glassware Industry
Understanding the melting point of soda lime glass is essential before using it in various applications. This knowledge helps you determine the temperatures at which soda lime glass retains its solid state and when it transitions to a molten form.
In this guide, we will cover the key facts about the melting point of soda lime glass. From its exact temperature range, factors influencing the melting point, and other thermal characteristics, this information is crucial for anyone involved in glass manufacturing and usage.
Let’s start.
Table of Contents
What Is Melting Point of Soda Lime Glass?
Soda lime glass typically melts between 1400°C and 1600°C (2552°F to 2912°F). This temperature range allows it to be easily shaped and molded into various forms during manufacturing. The exact melting point can vary based on the specific composition of the glass. Understanding this melting range is crucial for processes like glassblowing, molding, and other high-temperature applications.
Solid Soda Lime Glass
Melting Soda Lime Glass
Why Know Soda Lime Glass Melting Point?
Knowing the melting point of soda lime glass is crucial for its safe and efficient application.
Soda lime glass, is a kind of glassware materials, commonly used in glasswares, glass tableware, glass cups and so on, is made by melting silica sand, soda ash, sodium carbonate, and limestone at high temperatures.
- The melting point of soda-lime glass is an important parameter in its physical properties, as it is directly related to the production and processing of the glass.
For example, in the glass manufacturing process, knowing the melting point can help control the melting temperature and time to ensure the quality and properties of the glasswares.
- The melting point of soda-lime glass is also related to its chemical stability and mechanical strength.
Generally, the content of calcium oxide in glass does not exceed 12.5% to ensure the stability and safety of the glass.
Therefore, understanding the melting point of soda-lime glass is important for controlling the proportion of its composition, optimizing the production process, and ensure product quality is of great significance.
Melting Point Of Soda Lime Glass
For this guide, we will focus on the melting point of soda lime glass that are commonly used in daily used glassware production.
Let’s check the melting points in the table below.
| Material | Melting Point (°C) | Melting Point (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Soda Lime Glass | 1400 - 1600 | 2552 - 2912 |
Here is a video showing you the melting point.
Soda lime Glass Composition
Soda-lime glass is made from a mixture of several key components:
Silica (SiO₂): The primary ingredient, usually making up about 70-75% of the glass. It forms the basic structure of the glass.
Soda (Sodium Carbonate, Na₂CO₃): Typically constitutes about 12-15% of the glass. Soda lowers the melting point of the silica, making it easier to process.
Lime (Calcium Oxide, CaO): Usually around 8-12% of the glass composition. Lime helps to stabilize the glass and make it more durable.
Other Additives: Depending on the specific type of soda-lime glass and its intended use, small amounts of other materials may be added. These can include alumina (to increase strength), magnesium oxide (to improve durability), or various colorants and opacifiers.
This composition makes soda-lime glass suitable for a wide range of applications, though it does have limitations in terms of heat resistance and chemical durability compared to other types of glass.
Soda Lime Glass Composition
Is Soda Lime Glass Heat Resistant?
Soda-lime glass, the most common type of glass used for everyday items like glass cups, bottles, and other glass tablewaress, is not very heat resistant.
It can withstand moderate temperatures but is prone to thermal shock. This means that sudden changes in temperature can cause it to crack or break.
For more heat-resistant applications, borosilicate glass is a better choice as it can handle higher temperatures and thermal stress.
Our DM Low Borosilicate Pyrex Bowls Series are commonly used for mixing ingredients, cooking in the oven and storing food in the refrigerator or freezer. They are oven safe and also microwave safe.
High borosilicate glass, due to the addition of boron oxide, helps the glass to resist high temperatures and chemical corrosion, and low borosilicate glass has a reduced boron content compared to high borosilicate glass, but still maintains heat resistance and durability.
How To Melt Soda Lime Glass?
Soda-lime glass is typically melted in a furnace at temperatures of up to 1675°C (3083°F). The materials used to make soda-lime glass include soda, lime, silica, alumina, and small amounts of fining glass.
The process of melting sand into liquid glass involves heating it to a temperature similar to that of a space shuttle re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. At these high temperatures, the sand’s crystalline structure breaks down, and as it cools, it takes on a new structure that’s a cross between a liquid and a solid, known as an amorphous solid.
Soda is added to the mixture to lower the sand’s melting point, which reduces the cost and energy required to melt it. However, soda can also cause the glass to dissolve in water, so limestone is added to prevent this.
Once melted, the liquid glass can be molded or blown. For example, molten glass can be cut into solid cylinders called “gobs” using a shearing blade, and then dropped into molds to create bottles.
Glass Melting Furnace
Other Glass Material's Melting Point - Borosilicate Glass
Borosilicate glass typically melts at around 3,000°F (1,650°C). However, it can also withstand temperatures of up to 515°F for working.
Borosilicate glass has a low thermal expansion coefficient, which allows it to retain its strength and transparency even when exposed to high temperatures. Because of this, it’s safe to use borosilicate glass for cooking, as it’s unlikely that temperatures in a home kitchen will reach its melting point.
Borosilicate Glasses
Differences Between Soda Lime Glass And Borosilicate Glass
| Attribute | Soda Lime Glass | Borosilicate Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | Sodium carbonate, lime, dolomite, silicon dioxide, and aluminum oxide | Boric oxide, silica sand, soda ash, and alumina |
| Thermal Resistance | Needs to be tempered for higher thermal resistance; lower thermal shock resistance | Low coefficient of thermal expansion; withstands temperature differences of about 297°F |
| Strength | Mohs hardness of 6; suitable for everyday use | Mohs hardness of 7.5; harder, stronger, and more durable |
| Chemical Resistance | Less resistant; chemicals and particles can leach in or out | Highly resistant; prevents chemicals and particles from leaching |
| Common Uses | Glass cups, glass bowls, bottles, jars, and everyday glassware | Laboratory glassware, glass pots, glass cookware, and high-end glass products |
| Cost | Generally cheaper to produce and more affordable | More expensive due to difficult manufacturing process |
| Ease of Use | Easier to work with if not exposed to extreme conditions | More difficult to work with due to higher strength and durability requirements |
Above is the simple comparison between soda lime glass and borosilicate glass.
You can choose the right glass tableware according to your requests.
Conclusion
To know soda lime glass melting point is necessary to know about glassware industry.
At DM Glassware, you can get high quality glass products as well as professional knowleges.
Let’s talk about other questions you might be interested.
Is soda-lime glass cup easy to break?
It is not easily to break unless you put them to a rapid temperature change. For example, you pour the hot water into a glass cup frozen in the fridge, it is broken easily.
Are mason jars soda-lime glass?
Yes, they are.
And all glass cups in DM Glassware are made from soda lime glass.
Can you microwave soda-lime glass?
Soda-lime glass is the most common type of glass used in everyday products, which are also our main type of glasses we produced.
Can soda-lime glass go in the dishwasher?
Yes, they are dishwasher safe.
DM Glassware is providing custom glasswares for various occasions.
Our main products are machine-made glasswares, glass cups, glass drinkwares and tablewares for home and kitchen use. Such glasses like glass tumblers, glass mugs, whiskey glasses, shot glasses, glass candy jars, glass bowls, beer glasses, etc.
We also recommend the most suitable packaging method based on different sales types, such as different display boxes, adding stickers, tags, etc.
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