German Borosilicate Glass

Borosilicate (sometimes spelt Boroshilite) Glass was once one of the most popular materials used in making ceramic products. Unfortunately, it has been found to have some health risks. 

The name was derived from the fact that German boric acid, when introduced to the body, acts as a poison. Today we will look at the health benefits of German boric acid and its homoeopathic alternative called Borosilicate.

Temperature

First of all, I will tell you exactly why German borosilicate glass was the way to go. Unlike ceramic, which cannot be made to a standard temperature, German borosilicate glass can be made at any temperature.

It is vitally important, since most chemicals' boiling point is lower than the human body's, that the substance is not heated more than a certain point. The thickness of the material allows it to always remain safe, even under high temperatures.

German boric acid

German boric acid is also known as Borosilicate. If you were to list each of the different types of Glass properties, you would probably get some similar results. 

It is a very complex substance being made up of two different alloys of silica. Most Glass is made by combining two kinds of silica. German boric acid, however, consists of pure silica. This silica, combined with oxygen, allows it to connect with the other ingredients, giving off its unique properties.

Metal Alloy

When making German Glass, you need to have a certain kind of metal alloy to conduct electricity. The actual metal used in the process is sometimes aluminium, but in general, boric acid is made from aluminium. This is because it is a much safer substance to work with, especially when using extreme temperatures. It also doesn't react with any other substances in the Glass.

Glassblowers

Now, you're probably wondering what this all means for us glassblowers. Since boric acid is not a substance that we can make by hand, we would need to buy it in significantly large quantities. Unfortunately, these large orders would bring a price tag that most glassblowers could not afford. If we ever ran out, we would have to shut down. There would be no profit in the process.

Properties

• Silica is a crucial ingredient in many types of glasses because of its optical properties. 
• When the compound was combined with sulfuric acid, commonly known as borax, they created an entirely new glass material with unique properties. These new glasses were found to be stronger than Borosilicate and entirely safe for glassblowers to work with.
• German Borosilicate is often called Germanium or Borosilicate. It is identical to borax except that it contains boric acid instead of borax.
• Many glassblowing materials are based on borax or silica, so Germanium is often blended into materials instead of completely independent.
• It is a useful material that can be used for a wide range of projects.

Uses

German Borosilicate is often used in 

1. thermal insulation
2. gas fire doors
3. bullet-resistant vaults
4. Windowsdue to its superior optical and physical properties.
5. It is also becoming used to insulate kitchen cabinetsdue to its low density and thermal insulation. This unique glass material has many potential applications in various fields.
6. Its low cost and high strengthmake it a valuable addition to any glassblowing arsenal.
7. German Borosilicate is commonly found as a white crystalline powder. It is mixed with small amounts of boric acid in the appropriate ratio to form different sized balls. 
8. The Glass used for decorative purposesis often black because the reaction between organic substances and the Glass produces a colour similar to wine.

Popularity

German Borosilicate is popular due to its ability to reflect and refract light in a similar fashion to boric acid. Glass that contains boric acid is called black Glass because it similarly absorbs light to black paint. Black Glass is only produced when organic substances, usually boric acid, react with the Glass while forming it.