If you haven’t investigated the uses of borosilicate glass, it might be time to have a look. This unique type of glass has a number of applications in architecture, product design, art, and manufacturing, and it can be easily shaped into almost any form. Introducing borosilicate glass What is borosilicate glass? Well, the name gives […]
If you haven’t investigated the uses of borosilicate glass, it might be time to have a look. This unique type of glass has a number of applications in architecture, product design, art, and manufacturing, and it can be easily shaped into almost any form.
What is borosilicate glass? Well, the name gives a few clues. Obviously, it’s a form of glass, while the “boro” part of the name indicates that its chemical composition includes boron, in the form of boron trioxide. When combined with silica, this boron trioxide forms a material with very special properties, especially where light is concerned.
Borosilicate glass is a common material in lighting products, because it possesses excellent transmittance, allowing optimal amounts of light to escape, compared with materials like plastic. And its tolerance for heat and corrosion also make it suitable for use in high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, which are often used in exterior lighting or settings like film sets.
But the real magic of this material comes to light when it is combined with ultraviolet light (UV). Borosilicate glass tubing is a common component in UV lamps. Because of its high level of transparency, this form of glass allows maximum UV light to escape, while shielding bulbs effectively. That’s why it is often used in UV lamps which sterilise water.
On the other hand, borosilicate forms of glass tubing can also be used to block UV light. Specially engineered variants with specific colours can repel UV light, allowing sensitive materials like medicines to avoid decay.
Both of those applications help to save lives across the world. But there are other useful applications of borosilicate glass. For instance, it is also becoming a standard material in solar collectors, where it focuses the sun’s rays onto photovoltaic cells. The secret here is that borosilicate glass has a high solarization stability, but low thermal expansion, so heat is directed very efficiently instead of diffusing throughout the lens.
The uses of this type of glass go on. Just to mention a couple more, lab accessories like funnels and test tubes are often composed from borosilicate glass, while the material could well be present in your kitchenware collection or even your guitar slide.
This versatility is what makes this form of glass so appealing. Users can shape borosilicate glass into an infinite variety of tubing or sheet formats, and fuse it with other materials like Kovar. They can use it in extreme conditions, such as underwater or in high temperature environments. Or it can be used to serve a simple dinner. And above all, it’s UV resistance makes it ideal for many technical purposes.
If you can think of an application, we can provide the borosilicate glass tubing you need, so get in touch and make this useful material work for you.
