Vidrio

Vidrio is a Spanish term that translates to "glass" in English. It is a hard, brittle substance, typically transparent or translucent, made by fusing sand with soda, lime, and sometimes other ingredients and cooling rapidly. It is used to make windows, drinking containers, and other articles.

History

The history of glass dates back to ancient times. The earliest known glass objects, of the mid third millennium BCE, were beads, perhaps initially created as the accidental by-products of metal-working (slags) or during the production of faience, a pre-glass vitreous material made by a process similar to glazing.

Production

Glass production involves two main methods – the float glass process that produces sheet glass, and glassblowing that produces bottles and other containers. It has been done in a variety of ways during different time periods. Today, this material is produced by heating a mixture of silica (sand), soda, and lime to a high temperature until it melts into a liquid. This liquid is then cooled rapidly to form glass.

Uses

Vidrio or glass has a wide range of applications, including use in architecture, automotive, containers, tableware, and optoelectronics. The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica (SiO2) plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of glass is significant. While it is highly recyclable, the rate of glass recycling varies greatly by country and region. The energy required to melt recycled glass is considerably less than that needed to melt raw materials to make new bottles and jars. Furthermore, the chemical process of turning raw materials into glass releases a significant amount of carbon dioxide.

See Also

• Glass recycling
• Glass production
• History of glass