Soda Lime Glass - Sheet & Sphere - Material Information

Soda-lime glass is one of the world’s most widely used materials, found in everything from household windows to laboratory glassware. Known for its clarity, low cost, and versatile manufacturability, it combines reliable mechanical performance with ease of shaping and thermal stability. Despite being less heat-resistant than borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass remains the industry standard for everyday and scientific applications.

Material Overview

Soda-lime glass primarily consists of silicon dioxide (SiO?, ~70–74%), sodium oxide (Na?O, ~12–16%), and calcium oxide (CaO, ~5–12%). Minor additives such as magnesium oxide (MgO) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) improve chemical durability and viscosity during production. The structure is amorphous, with a random network of Si–O tetrahedra modified by alkali ions that adjust its melting behavior. Key physical properties include a density of ~2.5 g/cm³, refractive index around 1.52, and a coefficient of thermal expansion of approximately 9 × 10?? K?¹. Its hardness typically measures 6 on the Mohs scale, and it exhibits a working temperature range between 700 °C and 900 °C.

Applications and Advantages

Due to its optical clarity, cost efficiency, and workability, soda-lime glass is the preferred choice for flat glass (windows and screens), containers (bottles and jars), and laboratory components such as tubes and rods. Industrially, it is formed using float, blowing, or pressing processes. While it has moderate chemical resistance, its resistance to thermal shock is lower than borosilicate glass, making it less suitable for high-temperature or sudden-temperature-change environments. Nevertheless, its recyclability, consistent quality, and formability make it an environmentally and economically sustainable choice for large-scale applications.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies soda-lime glass in various configurations, including sheet and sphere forms, with precision manufacturing standards and customizable dimensions. Materials are available in high optical quality, ensuring suitability for research, industrial, and decorative applications. For tailored specifications, users can consult the full product selection via the Goodfellow catalogue.

Explore Soda Lime Glass - Sheet; Soda Lime Glass - Sphere - Material Information and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Varshneya, A. K. (2021). Fundamentals of Inorganic Glasses (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
• Shelby, J. E. (2020). Introduction to Glass Science and Technology (3rd ed.). Royal Society of Chemistry.
• Doremus, R. H. (2022). Glass Science. John Wiley & Sons.
• Scholze, H. (2020). Glass: Nature, Structure, and Properties. Springer.
• Musgraves, J. D., Calvez, L., & Hu, J. (Eds.). (2021). Springer Handbook of Glass. Springer Nature.