Discuss important properties and uses of Glass and glass products.

Glass and glass products - Glass is an inorganic material build by the fusion of various metallic oxides. These properties of glass are -

i) This is transparent, hard and brittle

ii) Glass is insoluble in water and typical organic solvents

iii) This has low dielectric loss, good mechanical strength and slow ageing

iv) This is susceptible to destruction while sudden and high temperature cycles are applied

Uses - Glass is utilized in moulded insulating devices as electrical bushings, insulators and fuse bodies. Glass is utilized as a dielectric in capacitors.  Television tubes, Radio and electrical laminated boards also make utilize of glass

Glass Products

a) Silica glass or fused quartz- Silica while heated to a temperature of fusion and after that cooled is termed as silica glass. Such material has fine electrical properties, high resistivity and low coefficient of expansion.

b) Borosilicate glass or Pyrex- This type of glass needs 28 percent of boron oxide with other oxides. They resist the consequence of chemicals and moisture better than the other glasses.

c) Fibre glass insulation - It is able of withstanding high temperature. For many applications fibre glass is impregnated along with materials as synthetic resins or with mineral oil. They possess fine electrical and mechanical properties and enough flexibility to be moulded in needed shapes.

d) Epoxy glass - This is made by joining glass fibre layer along with a thermosetting compound. This is immune to alkalies and acids and is utilized in PCB making, instrument cases and terminal holders.