Difference Between Soft Glass and Hard Glass

1. The Two Main Types of Glass SOFT GLASS vs HARD GLASS KNOW THE BASIC DIFFERENCES SOFT GLASS Soft glass is also called soda-lime glass. It can be manufactured and formed at much lower temperatures, which makes it the most economical option for commercial use. It has a very high COE and is not thermally (expansion or contraction) or percussively (drop) protected. It is commonly used in making- bottles because they need not be heat or shock-resistant. Soft glass is also used to create products like ‘float’ glass for windows, ‘rolled’ glass for decorative objects, or ‘blown’ glass for vessels. The higher expansion rate makes it easier to be shaped into the desired form at lower temperatures & lower cost. HARD GLASS Hard glass, also called borosilicate (boro) or Pyrex glass, is denser than other types of glass. It is not just mixed together but Boro is doped with Boron, which means heating to such a high temperature that space is made between the molecules for the doping agent (boron) so that when it cools, the Boron acts like it is part of the glass. It is designed to withstand abuse and high heat. Due to the lower expansion rate, it is used to make things that are multi-purpose and can handle a bit more ‘action’ like exposing to high heat or repetitive heating and cooling. It is used in temperature-dependent applications like baking dishes and strength-dependent or high-pressure applications for marine and military, space vehicles, periscopes. THE BETTER? You can't say which one is better as it depends on the type of end-product you want. If you want something more innovative, artistic, delicate, and economical, it is better to choose soft glass If you are trying to make a dish you can cook with or pipe to smoke from, better use hard glass. All the pipes @ChameleonGlass, are made of Pyrex or borosilicate. These pipes are handcrafted, beautiful, and fully functional. WWW.CHAMELEONGLASS.COM