Glass is one of the oldest materials in mankind. For the first time in 3,000 BC, glass was made by hand in Mesopotamia and Egypt. At that time mainly small vessels and jewelry were made from the glass. Glass is a material made from quartz sand, limestone and soda using a certain technology by mixing them together. The types of glass differ in the manufacturing methods and the elements that are added to the basic materials during manufacture. Each epoch and culture had developed its own method, and so the most varied types of glass emerged over time.
How is glass made?
The individual glass manufacturing components are stored as raw materials in their own silos and barrels. Before the mixing process, the required components are then weighed and automatically mixed in a large basin. Mostly, old glass shards are added to the raw material, which should save raw materials and, above all, energy. Due to the recycling of glass, the melting process of the raw material mixture requires less time and lower temperatures. After the material mixing process has been successfully completed, the mixed materials are transferred to gas or oil heating ovens and the melting process is initiated. The mixture is heated to a very high temperature, blown into the desired shape and then cooled. Such a process can take up to 24 hours.
Forming glass
The correct choice of the glass molding process mostly depends on the target product. We take into account the four famous methods known to all manufacturers: blowing, casting, pressing and drawing. The individual manufacturing processes are intended to give the glass more strength and strength.
1.Blowing
The craftsman begins this process while the molten glass is still in the oven. The glass is slowly inflated through a tube and simultaneously brought into the desired shape. Since it is soft, the manufacturer can easily shape, squeeze and cut the glass. During this phase, he places the glass in the oven from time to time to keep it soft until the desired shape is achieved. Finally, the craftsman uses special pliers to separate the tube from the finished glass.
2.Press
Another way to shape the glass is by printing. In this process, the craftsman presses the molten glass into a finished mold with a plunger once the mold is evenly filled. After solidification, the stamp is pulled out again. Typical press articles include baking tins, cups and lighting fixtures.
3.Exctraction
The buoyancy method or pulling is used to produce flat glass or glass fibers. The molten glass is introduced into a bath of liquid tin in a continuous furnace, after which it floats and spreads evenly. The surface tension of the tin and the liquid glass creates a smooth surface. The glass then goes through a cooling furnace, where it is cooled down and cut after an optical quality control. The best-known products in float glass include window panes, vehicle windows and safety windows.
4.Mold
With this method, the craftsman uses a special tool to pour the hot liquefied glass into a prefabricated mold and let it slowly cool down until it solidifies. It is a popular method in which mostly used glass is melted to get new shapes. The best known products manufactured in this way are lamps and glass products from the chemical and medical industries. Do you already know our large selection of glass vases? Have a look at us and let yourself be inspired by the great handwork!