Borosilicate glass is a durable type of glass that can withstand extreme temperatures and chemical corrosion, making it popular in scientific instrument making. It was invented by Otto Schott in the 19th century and was once used for kitchenware. It is now mostly used for laboratory glassware and high-precision lenses. It is resistant to chemical corrosion and can handle volatile chemicals and nuclear waste. Products made with borosilicate glass are more expensive due to the higher heat and labor required for production.
Borosilicate glass is a type of glass that includes at least 5% boric oxide. Boric oxide makes glass resistant to extreme temperatures and also improves its resistance to chemical corrosion. This glass is very popular in scientific instrument making and was once widely used to make kitchen glass as well. Today, soda lime glass is the glass of choice for kitchenware, as it is generally cheaper to produce.
The invention of borosilicate glass is generally credited to Otto Schott, a German glassmaker who worked in the 19th century. By the late 19th, the process for making it had been perfected, and in the 1800s, a popular line of borosilicate cooking products was released under the Pyrex label. Because it is stronger and more durable than conventional glass, it has a range of far-reaching uses.
This glass is not invincible, of course. It cracks if subjected to very sudden and radical changes in temperature, or if it is dropped. However, glass is more likely to break or crack than shatter, making it safer to have it in a situation where breakage is an issue. In the event that products made from glass break, it is generally easier and safer to clean than shattered glass.
Borosilicate glass can withstand both extreme heat and cold, making it very popular for laboratory glassware and other scientific instruments. It also has a low thermal expansion rate, which can make it useful for things like telescopes and other high-precision lenses where the lens surface needs to be very uniform to get a clear image.
Glass is also resistant to chemical corrosion, which can be extremely useful for experiments and chemical storage. While all glass tends to be fairly resistant to chemicals, this variety can handle extremely volatile chemicals, along with nuclear waste.
In addition to being found in science labs, borosilicate glass can also be seen in windows, high-end lighting, cookware, and a few other applications. As a general rule, products made with it will be more expensive than those made with ordinary glass, because these products require more heat and more labor to produce.
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