Glass vs. Temperatures
How do different types of glass respond to heat? This can be a crucial question for many who need glass for their products or production facilities. At Mirit Glas, we have specialized in professional glass solutions since 1953 and have extensive experience advising our customers on these challenges.
It is essential to consider whether the glass you require can withstand extreme temperatures and handle significant temperature variations. Whether you need glass for industrial ovens, lighting applications, or IR solutions, we offer various types of glass with unique properties, making them particularly suitable for demanding environments. Learn more about how our glass solutions can meet your needs.
Overview of Glass Types for High Temperatures and Thermal Variations:
Borosilicate glass is a common choice for industrial applications. It is often used in professional settings where thermal resistance and chemical durability are critical. With a low expansion coefficient, this glass can handle significant temperature fluctuations without cracking or deforming. When it comes to heat, borosilicate glass is excellent for managing large temperature differences. As a rule of thumb, borosilicate glass can withstand temperatures up to 450°C for 10 hours. For shorter durations, it can handle up to 500°C during repeated temperature changes.
Applications:
- Sight glass and laboratory equipment
- Lighting applications
- Industrial solutions requiring both chemical and thermal stability
When even higher temperature resistance is required, ceramic glass is often the ideal choice. Ceramic glass is used in wood stoves, industrial ovens, and other applications where the ability to endure high temperatures for extended periods is essential. Ceramic glass can withstand temperatures up to 825°C for short periods. As a rule of thumb, it can handle up to 700°C for short intervals and 560°C during continuous use for up to 5000 hours.
Applications:
- Incinerators and combustion systems
- Oven and industrial glass
- Equipment requiring high-temperature resistance
Quartz glass is an extremely pure type of glass that allows nearly the entire light spectrum to pass through. It is often an excellent choice for high-temperature applications. Quartz glass can withstand temperatures up to 1600°C during short-term exposure and 1100°C during continuous use. It is frequently used in high-tech applications where a combination of high thermal resistance and purity is essential.
Sapphire glass is another option for applications requiring glass to withstand high temperatures. However, it is an expensive material known for its strength and resistance to both scratches and extreme temperatures. On the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire glass is second only to diamond, making it exceptionally robust. Sapphire glass is also chemically resistant to both acids and bases and can be used at temperatures up to 2000°C. This makes it an excellent choice for optical and IR solutions requiring high purity and broad optical transmission.
Applications:
- Optical glass for high-temperature environments
- IR solutions requiring high transmission and durability
- Laboratory equipment exposed to chemicals
When strength and thermal resistance are critical, tempered glass can be the solution. We offer both thermally and chemically tempered glass, both capable of handling temperature variations. As a rule of thumb, tempered glass can endure temperatures up to 280°C. However, we recommend not exposing it to temperatures above 250°C for extended periods to maintain its durability.
What is Important to Know About Glass and Heat?
Glass is a unique material with properties that differ significantly from those of other materials. Standard glass can, in principle, withstand temperatures up to 600°C with uniform heating before it begins to deform. However, this is only achievable if the heating process is slow and the temperature is evenly distributed across the surface. In practice, two key factors must be considered:
- Temperature Differences Across the Glass:
Standard glass (also known as float glass) can typically handle temperature variations of up to 40°C. This applies to both rapid temperature changes and differences in temperature across the glass. - High Temperatures and Duration:
When glass is exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, standard glass is generally unsuitable. This is one reason borosilicate glass is popular in industrial and robust applications—it is highly resistant to significant temperature variations and can endure temperatures over 400°C for long periods.
The Right Glass Tubes for Heat
When glass tubes are needed for products or production facilities, borosilicate glass tubes are almost always the standard choice. Quartz glass and sapphire glass are used in more specialized cases. These materials all excel in handling high temperatures.
Glass in Infrared (IR) Solutions
In some cases, glass is part of infrared solutions, often in industrial applications. Here, the heat resistance of the glass is not always the primary concern—or sometimes it is. Materials like germanium glass and zinc selenide glass are commonly used in front of infrared cameras to filter out all light except the infrared spectrum. This makes IR solutions more reliable. However, germanium glass performs optimally only at room temperature, introducing a different temperature-related challenge.
Contact Us
Are you ready to take the next step in developing your electronic solutions and need the right glass? Contact us today for a discussion on how we – with our knowledge and experience – can help you find the perfect glass for your application.
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