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Glass is everywhere around us.

In the windows we look out of, the phone screens we tap away at, and even resting on the end of our nose helping us to read.

But how did glass become so popular, and what were the origins of this substance?

Let’s find out.

When, Where and How Was Glass First Made?

This is a question that is highly debated.

The timescale of when glass was first made is blurry, with some stories of the first glass manufacturing dating back to 5000 BC, and some stating it was a little later, around 3500 BC.

The actual way that glass was formed back then is just as unclear.

There are rumours of ancient sailors setting up fire on a beach after running ashore and realising the sand below them was melting, before solidifying as glass, but the temperature required to do this would be impossible to achieve from such a fire.

The reality?

Glass-making was something that developed over time. With newfound ingredients, ways of reaching high temperatures, and experiments in colour and other ways of melting and solidifying sand as glass, soon enough a product similar (but not the same) as what we would recognise as glass today was formed.

What we do know is that by 1500BC, glass was being created and moulded to be used as vessels for carrying liquids and other items.

While the first glass may have been made before this, it would be around this time that glass began to seen as decoration and a handy substance for creating personal items.

When Was Transparent Glass Invented?

We now jump forward to the 1^st Century BC, where evidence of glass making instructions are still preserved to this day.

Notes were recorded in a form of language called cuneiform. This was a syllabic set of notes that was often imprinted onto stone or clay.

Looking through the texts, dating 650 BC, there is a list of ingredients that has been shown to result in a blue, transparent glass when combined.

This is a clear indication that this form of glass was being created at the time, and means that before we moved from BC to AD, transparent glass was already being manufactured.

The Oldest Glass Items Still Available to See

There is some glass from the period between 1500BC and 1000BC still in museums.

Due to the fact that throughout the centuries, patterns and styles didn’t dramatically change, the exact date this glass was produced is slightly murky, but what you can see is the way glass was being used.

Most items that still remain are small decorative pieces such as beads.

Some of the oldest glass you can find is right here in Britain, and the British Museum recently showcased some stunning items from the 1^st Century BC in Lebanon. These items were destroyed after an explosion but were restored to how they would have looked all them years ago.

One of the most famous pieces of Roman glass is the Portland vase, created around 25 AD, and that is still perfectly preserved in the British Museum to this day.

Bringing Glass to Britain

So, if glass was created many centuries ago on the other side of the world, how did it come over to Britain?

Well, the story goes that glass was initially mastered by the Roman Empire. The secret to this tough substance was tried to be kept in secrecy though.

There may have been some outbreaks of knowledge throughout Europe about how to create glass, but it wasn’t until around 500 AD, just after the Roman Empire had fallen, that the secrets to manufacturing glass became more widespread.

It is in 680 AD that the first glass industry in Britain is recorded, based in Weamouth in the North of England.

But progress wasn’t exactly quick, and it wasn’t until many centuries after 1000 AD that glass manufacturing throughout this island really started to take off.

This was because Britain didn’t focus on the arts as much as their Roman counterparts had done before them.

While the skills required to blow glass did help in mostly forming windows, it would take many centuries for glass blowing to really take off in Britain as it had done in Europe.

What gave it the kick it needed to spread throughout the country, was a man named Jean Carre.

The Emergence of British Glassblowing

Venice was a hotspot for glass manufacture and blowing.

When Jean Carre came to Southern England and opened up a glass manufacturing production company, he spread his Venetian knowledge to many of the surrounding people and areas.

The knowledge and techniques spread, and soon enough more plants began cropping up throughout the land and glass began to be used for much more than just windows.

The British glass manufacturers began to show innovation, and introduced lead oxide to strengthen glass, as well as developing new methods of cutting glass that are still used to this day.

How the Technique of Forming Glass has Changed

The methods we use today are very different to what was used many centuries ago.

This has resulted in many different types of glass being made.

You now have annealed glass, bulletproof glass, heat-strengthened glass, and much more, which are all made differently thanks to the latest innovations.

Glassblowing is also changing, with machinery now available, such as our auto-lathes, that can make the whole process quicker and more accurate.

The changes in the manufacturing process are such that glass can now be produced on much grander scales, and while smaller objects are still made, the float glass method allows huge sections of glass to be built.

Moore’s Glassworks

At Moore’s Glassworks, our team of experts produce glass items of the highest quality.

Either moulded by our skilled craftspeople, or with our auto-lathes, we have built a reputation over many years for producing meticulous, tough products such as cathode ray tubes and vacuum viewports.

Want to know more? Then get in touch with our team today

Glass is everywhere around us.

In our homes.

In our cars.

Even right in front of our eyes for some people.

When you see a substance such as glass every day, it can be easy to forget the complex method of creating it that takes place.

At Moore’s Glassworks, we have manufactured glass for decades, and that’s why we’ve written this quick guide the process of creating glass, and the different types of glass that can be made.

Let’s take a look.

What is Glass Made From? 

For centuries, glass has been created from the same elements.

One of the main ingredients of glass is sand. When extreme heat is applied to sand, it’s internal structure changes drastically, and what can be left is a glass-like substance.

A great example of this (albeit rather a strange one) is when a prototype of the atomic bomb was exploded in New Mexico Desert in 1945. This led to the sand that was at the heart of the explosion being subjected to high levels of heat and left it resembling glass.

While this is an extreme example, it showcases how sand is transformed into glass.

In more modern times, glass is produced on mass scale in dedicated plants.

The most common form of glass created in these manufacturing plants is known as soda-lime glass.

This is because of it’s three ingredients, which are soda (also known as soda ash), limestone, and sand.

This concoction is melted together to form a liquid substance, that when cooled will turn into a solid.

A Step-by-Step Guide

This can sound simple, but it is actually a complex process.

Here is a quick guide on just what happens as the glass is formed:

1. All of the ingredients are mixed together to form what will become the glass. This is currently in a cool climate and the substances will be in their solid form.

2. The next step is optional and depends on the desired product. If you’re looking for stained glass, or glass that may be used for reading glasses for example, you may have to add further chemicals here to get the desired effect on the finished product.

3. The mixture is placed in a container that is able to withstand extreme heat. From here, heat is applied while the substance is mixed until it becomes a liquid.

4. Once the glass is hot enough, parts of it can safely be removed and shaped. If you’re creating windows, they will be placed into moulds. If you’re creating more bespoke products, such as items manufactured at Moore’s Glassworks like vacuum viewports and cathode ray tubes, then you will often form the shapes by hand, or using an auto lathe.

5. The final process is when the molten glass is placed in a container or kiln to cool down. This is known as annealing, and you must be very careful to avoid stress damage as the substance becomes solid.

6. Once the glass is solid and in shape, any extra coating can be added, and the product is complete. This is also the right time to perform quality control checks, to make sure the product is fit for purpose and safe to use.

Different Types of Glass 

There are many different types of glass that are commonly created and used throughout society, and here are three of the most used varieties.

Toughened Glass (a.k.a Safety Glass)

Sometimes glass is required to be able to withstand heavy stress and heat.

In this case, you may need toughened glass, also known as tempered.

This is commonly used on windows, doors, and mobile phone screen protectors.

When the glass is in the manufacturing process, the final stage is a bit different when creating this type of glass. When the glass is being heated up, it goes to a higher temperature than normal. The substance then goes through a rapid cooling process, which solidifies the outer layers quickly.

This extra heat stress makes the glass tougher and able to withstand much more stress when being used.

Toughened glass doesn’t smash as easily and into as sharp fragments as ordinary glass, and therefore makes it a great choice for use on car windows and other products where safety is paramount.

Heat-Strengthened Glass 

This is similar to tempered glass, but the cooling process is much slower.

While this doesn’t make the glass quite as tough as toughened glass, it does have some advantages.

The different methods of cooling mean that heat-strengthened glass breaks differently. Whereas tempered may not split into shards that are sharp, heat-strengthened will, which is why tempered is a better choice for safety.

Heat-strengthened glass is better visually than toughened glass and is often much clearer which makes it a good choice for some windows.

If safety glass isn’t needed, then toughened glass may be seen as overkill, and in that case, heat-strengthened glass is a great alternative.

Annealed Glass

Annealed glass is what can be best described as ‘normal’.

This is glass that hasn’t gone through any thermal stress greater than it needs, and has also been cooled at a normal rate.

Toughened glass is around four times stronger than annealed, and heat-strengthened is around two times stronger, so it is by no means the toughest thing on the market, but it is perfectly suitable to do a job when safety glass, or extra strong glass isn’t needed.

Something such as the window in a cabinet is a good situation where the other types of glass would be excessive and annealed glass would be just right.

Moore’s Glassworks: Custom Glass Manufacturers

So, why am I talking about creating glass?

Well, here at Moore’s Glassworks we manufacture many different glass products, from glass condom moulds to multi-pin stems.

To form these products, we use experienced hand-blowers and our auto-lathe machines to take the molten glass and formulate it into the exact shape required.

To know how glass works, and when we need to create different types of glass, such as tempered and heat-strengthened, we must know the ins and outs of the exact substance we’re dealing with.

For centuries glass has been made from heating sand, and it will for centuries more.

If you’re looking for custom glass manufacturers based in the UK, get in touch with Moore’s Glassworks today.

We offer a bespoke service and can create your desired product to the exact dimensions.

We look forward to hearing from you.

At Moore’s Glassworks, we have been moulding, forming, and shaping glass for over 40 years.

Over that time, we have come to learn so much about this versatile and flexible material.

While the technology has improved, and we now have state-of-the-art auto lathes to form glass with ultimate precision, there is still a much needed human element to the quality control in our glass blowing.

Take a look outside and you will see the product of many glass manufacturer’s work all over the place.

From car windows and ornamental vases to beer bottles and reading glasses, there are lots of examples of glass being used throughout modern society.

There are many stunning and surprising facts about this material, and here are our top 7, starting with where it all began.

1. Man-made glass dates back around 4000 years

While there is a lot of contention about which region the science of making glass was truly discovered, the time period is under no debate.

Around 4000 years ago, sometime around 2000BC, workers in Mesopotamia and Egypt discovered how to create glass.

How do we know this?

Well, inside the London Museum is an ornament bearing the hieroglyph of Thutmose III, who reigned as the pharaoh of Egypt around 1450 BC. This, among other archaeological finds, show that glass was being created, and moulded at this time.

So how did it work?

Glass manufacturing in this time period was very different to what it is now. Studying the chemicals of these found artefacts points to the use of quartz pebbles and plant ashes. These would have been burnt down until they formed glass in liquid form, which could then be shaped.

We’ve come a long way since then, but glass has never stopped being used for vases and ornaments.

2. Glass can form in natural ways

But it’s not just humans who can create glass.

Nature has its own way of forming sculptures from this material.

For example, when lava from volcanoes is rapidly cooled down when thrown into the air, a material known as obsidian is formed. Often a deep, black colour, this is similar to the glass normally found in windows but a lot tougher.

Another natural form of glass are fulgurites.

Amazingly, as a lightning strike hits rock or silica sand, glass formations can rise from the ground in the shape of the strike.

This phenomenon is known as fulgurite. As most lightning strikes hit the ground at around 2500 degrees Celsius, this is enough to melt the material it hits. A temperature of around 1800 degrees is a rough minimum needed to form a fulgurite.

Unsurprisingly, these can be found in high areas, such as up mountains, that are more susceptible to such strikes.

3. Venice was once known as the glass manufacturing capital of the world

As we mentioned earlier, Moore’s Glassworks has been manufacturing glass for over 40 years, but some glass manufacturers go back centuries.

Around the 12^th century, Venice became famous for its glassmaking capabilities. Through connections with the middle East, glassblowing methods that had been created and defined in Syria and Egypt were passed onto European shores.

From the new hub in Venice, glass was sent all over the world.

A couple of centuries later, and Venetians were spreading their talents across the globe, bringing with them the glassblowing equipment needed to produce fine products at speed (as well as creating transparent glass).

Glass manufacturing was already rapidly underway in London, and America quickly followed, with the first glass manufacturing plant opening in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608.

4. There aren’t many materials as sustainable as glass

Glass is a material that is as environmentally friendly as it gets.

100% reusable and recyclable, glass has one of the quickest turnaround times of any material, being reshaped and reused in 30 days in some instances.

So, how does glass get recycled?

Well, the process is simple. As glass gets handed over to the glassworks, it is crushed, before being melted. You now have a liquid which you can mould and form into any shape you want and that can be back on the shelves within a month.

Used glass (often known as cullet) has a low melting point compared to many other raw materials, which means that the energy used throughout the recycling process is much less.

All of this makes recycling glass even more important, and makes the material itself, one of the best to use for packaging and storage.

5. The Romans were the first to use glass for windows

Around the 1^st century AD, the Roman’s began to produce glass on a large scale. This rapid rise in production led to the first glass being used for windows.

While these windows wouldn’t resemble the transparent ones we look out of today (they would have probably been black) this was the birth of the window as we know it.

Around a millennium later, and stained glass is known to be used in buildings such as churches. Built in the late 11^th century, the Augsburg cathedral in Bavaria, Germany, is said to be one of the earliest instances of stained glass being used.

So, when did glass become transparent?

In Britain, glass windows were seen, albeit rarely, in the 16^th century. These replaced windows made of animal horn and other materials such as paper.

Through the centuries, the use of glass on windows became more common and affordable, until most houses across the country began to take advantage of the properties of transparent glass in their homes.

6. Glass isn’t a normal solid material

Okay, hear me out on this one.

While glass is solid in terms of its nature (if you knock on your window it won’t bend) it technically isn’t classed as a completely solid material.

Instead, it is labelled an amorphous solid.

What this means is that the molecules in glass are still moving. Unlike a solid where the molecules are rigid and unmovable, or a liquid where the molecules move freely, an amorphous solid’s molecules move at a very slow rate.

The molecules in glass are not rigid, and hold no pattern, which is why it is more susceptible to breakages.

The molecules inside glass have no structure, which leads to the many different shards that break off when glass is shattered.

But, before you panic thinking over time your windows may turn into a blob, a study found it would take longer than the existence of the universe for glass to do this.

7. Glass has been the linchpin for many scientific and technological inventions

As the use of glass became more widespread, it’s uses became more varied.

Just as Moore’s glass, we showcase many uses of glass in the forming of our cathode ray tubes, vacuum viewports, glass condom moulds and multi-pin bases.

Screens on smartphones, cameras, televisions, fibre optic wires, and more are all inventions that have changed the shape of the world we live in, and that all contain glass.

Not just ornamental, glass has many qualities that make it ideal for inventions of this nature.

There’s a reason Steve Jobs was adamant the first iPhone would have a glass screen instead of a plastic one.

It’s tough, clean, transparent, recyclable and shapable, making it a dream material for inventors and manufacturers alike.

Moore’s Glassworks

Our team of expert glass technicians produce many different products every day.

From the products mentioned above, to custom glassworks fitted exactly to the customer’s needs, we are sure to be able to provide what you’re looking for.

Get in touch today to see what Moore’s Glassworks can do for you.

Many workplaces across the world use photoionization detectors (PIDs).

The main focus of a PID is to locate and pinpoint the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air.

Since the 1970s, workplaces that may be susceptible to leaks of such compounds, which contains gases such as methane, formaldehyde and ethanol, have used PIDs to monitor how safe the environment is.

Most PIDs now come in the form of handheld devices which can be used to constantly check all areas of a workplace.

But just what is going on inside a PID.

Let’s find out.

What is a Photoionization Detector?

Inside a PID, molecules are broken down and turned into positively charged ions. This is done by taking a sample of air and firing ultraviolet rays through it.

When VOCs enter a PID, these rays ionize them. Whether or not they are ionized depends on the ionization energy of the VOC.

It is impossible to gain an exact figure with a PID, but by using a gas that is a good middle ground (more often than not isobutylene) you can gain a good approximation of the VOC volume in the air.

The basis of how a PID works, is that each ion that is created adds to an electric current that is made visible or audible and displayed. The bigger the current, the more ions that are being created, thus the more chance of their being a large amount of VOCs in the air.

If someone is working in a building and there is a suspected leak somewhere, this could lead to a high volume of VOCs in the air.

Using a PID, they can gain a good idea of the VOC volume in the area, as well as being able to track it over time.

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

There are over 1000 volatile organic compounds that can be measured in the air, but some of the most common are found in things such as paint, aerosol sprays and certain fuels.

Not all VOCs are harmful to humans but some such as ethanol and formaldehyde can be dangerous if ingested.

PIDs are vital in addressing any VOC pollution in the air, and they are often used in areas such as healthcare, environmental industries and construction where potentially hazardous materials are often used.

The Story of Photoionization Detectors

In 1973, vinyl chloride was commonly used (we now use PVC). When many workers were getting seriously ill after working in close proximity to vinyl chloride, it was figured that this was due to the material and the VOCs that it produced.

A PID was first used the following year. Before this, the more common instrument for assessing air quality was a flame ionization detector, but this was limited in the number of VOCs it could spot.

The PID bought with it the ability to pinpoint huge amounts of VOCs, and thus soon found itself at the forefront of the detection industry.

Soon enough PIDs became commonplace in many workplaces, but especially ones that were potentially vulnerable to high VOC amounts in the air.

Joining PID glass

Modern Day Uses

PIDs don’t come without their limitations. They can’t pinpoint specific VOCs and they can never provide a 100% accurate number.

What they can do though is give an immediate answer to a very important question.

With most VOC issues coming from leaks, having a PID on hand can give a quick reading of just how dangerous a room could be.

This small item can be the difference between life and death if used rightly.

In industries where fuel is continuously stored, or preservatives are constantly used, keeping a regular monitoring of the VOCs that are being released into the air provides an insight into how safe a working environment is.

This is why military personnel, warehouse operatives, manufacturers and farmers all benefit from using PIDs around their workplace.

They are easy to install, cheap to run, and have huge benefits when it comes to keeping you, and your workmates safe.

The Manufacture of PID Glass

PIDs always contain a glass element.

This is the UV lamp, and it is often on one side of the PID. When the air vapour enters the PID it flows into the ionization chamber. At some point there will be another opening, and in this opening will be the UV lamp which begins to send out its beams.

In the ionization chamber, between the vapour opening and the lamp, is where the ionization of the molecules takes place.

The glass elements of a PID can come in many different shapes and sizes.

PID Joining

Moores Glassworks and PIDs

Moores Glassworks manufacture glass bodies that are used inside PIDs.

Every item we produce is created in our automated, in-house lathes and is always produced to the highest quality.

There is a wide range of PIDs that are used throughout the world.

For people who are constantly on the go, a handheld PID that can be transported around with you is handy. For rooms that are susceptible to leaks and spillages, static lamps are often placed at a point in the room to continuously monitor the environment.

No matter what your requirements, get in touch today and we will be able to produce a PID glass body just the way you need it.

Summary 

PIDs may look like a simple tool from the outside, but there is a lot taking place inside one of these machines that could have the potential to save lives.

At Moores Glass, we have been manufacturing glass for many years and are proud to offer PID glass that is manufactured to our customer’s needs. 

We are a specialist company that custom manufactures industrial glass and glass-to-metal products that are vital to many medical and industrial applications. We use cutting-edge manufacturing processes that will ensure your product meets your exact criteria.

We produce our multi-pin bases and headers using either lead or Kodial glass (Schott 8250) to deliver the best possible performance no matter how they will be used. We make our multi-pin-headers to fit your individual specifications.

As a world-leading manufacturer of custom glass products for over 40 years, which are unique for their quality and performance, we are able to produce top-quality multi-pin-headers that will deliver outstanding performance.

What is a multi-pin header?

Pin headers are a type of electrical connector usually made up of rows of pins that are moulded into a base and can be manufactured in many different pin spacings. There are male and female pin headers, but they can come under various names, such as Berg connectors etc.

Multiple pin headers have been used for years in vacuum tubes within communications equipment and computers. The early products were made using nickel-iron pins and steel bodies, but these days are made using more robust, reliable and efficient materials that deliver outstanding performance in a wide variety of environments.

These essential components have been designed for use within high-precision medical, scientific and industrial equipment, such as semiconductors and surgical tools and equipment. They are mainly used to transmit signals between modules and components with gas sealing requirements, such as electron tubes.

Our multi-pin headers are produced in either lead or Kodial glass (Schott 8250) and are well known throughout the industry for their robustness, high performance and longevity.

Our multi-pin-headers are used in a wide range of electron tubes such as photomultiplier, cathode ray, hollow cathode lamps, medical diagnostic equipment, anode and cathode connectors for X-rays, implantable feed-throughs, equipment pin base assemblies, filament supports, Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) connections, and more.

Multi-Pin Headers

All of our products are inspected before dispatch and come with our record of proven reliability and high performance.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team at Moore’s Glassworks for more information and to discuss your needs. Or if you want to know about our work, why not visit our dedicated multi-pin headers page here?