Types of Glass / Glass Circle｜中島硝子工業株式会社

Types of Glass

When thinking of transparent, breakable material = glass, it's easy to mistakenly think it's all the same material, but glass has several types depending on the types and proportions of constituent materials, each with different characteristics and uses. While properties vary somewhat by manufacturer, we will explain representative types.

Soda-Lime Glass

The most commonly used glass for building windows and inexpensive glass cups, and this is mainly the glass we handle. Since it is mass-produced by industrial methods, it is the most inexpensive and familiar glass. While it gives a stable impression, being strong against acids except hydrofluoric acid, it is weak against alkalis and gradually reacts with water, causing clouding.

Borosilicate Glass

Has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than soda-lime glass, making it strong against thermal shock (rapid temperature changes), and also superior to soda-lime glass in chemical resistance. Used for scientific glassware and, in familiar applications, heat-resistant glass containers.

Quartz Glass

Has an even smaller thermal expansion coefficient than borosilicate glass, and rarely breaks from thermal shock alone. Also chemically stable and hardly affected by chemicals except hydrofluoric acid and high-temperature concentrated phosphoric acid. Also shows high transmittance from ultraviolet to infrared. While excellent in many aspects as glass, it is very expensive.

Crystal Glass

Glass made by adding lead oxide to soda-lime glass components. Due to high transparency and refractive index, it appears to shine like crystal. Used for high-end glass tableware, wine glasses, and interior items.

Lead Glass for Radiation Shielding

Special glass used for radiation shielding in medical and research facilities. Has higher lead content than decorative crystal glass, and since it easily develops clouding from moisture when used alone, careful handling is required.

While significantly different in properties from the glass mentioned above, acrylic and polycarbonate are called organic glass. Compared to other glass, they have advantages such as easy cutting, machining, and molding, being lightweight, impact-resistant, and break-resistant, but have disadvantages of being easily scratched and weak against heat and chemicals.