Glass is formed by a mixture of silica (silicon dioxide) and siliceous sand (which is 70% of its mass), soda ash (sodium carbonate), limestone (calcium carbonate), and other materials in small amounts that modify its properties or composition. All materials are then combined and heated at extremely high temperatures to melt and fuse them together. The resulting molten liquid is then made into different forms, like sheets, bottles, or fibers, which are then cooled to rapidly solidify it into its final glassy state. Adding metal oxides like iron, chromium, or cobalt can impart color to glass, while boron oxide can increase heat resistance. This ability to modify composition allows it to be used for various applications in different industries. Some properties can include light transmission, corrosion resistance, and enhanced recyclability. There are many different types, such as soda-lime, lead, aluminosilicate, tempered, insulated, window, borosilicate, tinted, mirrored, plexiglass and more.
In the beverage and food industries, glass is commonly used for containers like bottles and jars that are higher in alumina and calcium to increase water erosion and resistance. This type of usage focuses on storage efficiency, such as preservation, non-reactive material, and reusability or recyclability, which makes it sustainable and eco-friendly. The material in these industries is easy to clean and resists stains and odors. These materials serve as kitchenware, including drinking glasses, plates, and bowls with different styles for both formal and informal occasions.
Glass evolves the designs and efficiencies of homes, buildings, and facilities that many businesses and consumers rely on. Residential homes use flat and clear material for windows and skylights. This material allows light to penetrate indoor spaces and eliminates the need for artificial lighting. Insulated, double-glazed, low-emissivity windows provide insulation in facilities or buildings that need light and maintain a controlled temperature inside. Tempered or safety glass has many uses in different structures, like shelving, furniture, shower doors, tables, refrigerator trays, solar panels, and bulletproof material. Mirrored materials serve as mirrors in bedrooms, bathrooms, or ceilings. Laminated glass and plexiglass serve for front doors, windowed storefronts for displays, and glass walls for meeting rooms in commercial use.
The transportation industry is dependent on glass as well for windshields, windows, and mirrors. Laminated tempered/safety glass is used for windshields, passenger, sunroofs, and rear windows specifically for the ability to reduce shattering on impact, increasing safety measures for the driver and passengers.
The technology industry uses glass fiber optics made of silica glass and other materials as cables. It transmits information as light signals over long distances in telecommunications, forming the backbone of the internet and telecommunication networks. Glass optical fibers resist electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-magnetic interference (RMI), making them valuable in communications. Glass optical fibers are strong and handle low to high temperatures well. In high temperatures, they use ovens, furnaces, and condensers; in low temperatures, they use cold storage warehouses. People use optical glass in cameras, smart phones, and LCD screens.
In the medical industry, laboratory equipment depends on borosilicate glass for products like beakers, test tubes, pipettes, and petri dishes. Vials, syringes, and containers for pharmaceutical products are used to ensure the integrity and safety of medications and samples. Optical glass is used for microscopes and telescopes. For personal care, mirrors and container glass are the most popular cosmetics. This type of packaging provides an excellent barrier against moisture, air, and UV rays.
AGC Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is a major glass producer that was the first in Japan to manufacture glass sheets. This company also operates in electronics and chemicals and provides a multitude of products, such as auto glass, double strength glass and skylights for buildings, heat-resistant glassware for food preparation, and raw materials such as sodium bicarbonate. AGC, or Ashi Glass Co., had a market cap of $7.86 billion and revenue of $14.53 billion in 2023.
Corning is based out of Corning, New York, and specializes in optical communications, electronics, and displays, as well as automotive markets. Some of the products that they provide are specialty glass applications for medical x-ray shielding, components for aerospace optics, remote sensing, optical communications, semiconductors, pharmaceutical technologies, and more. Corning had a market cap of $25.97 billion with a revenue of $13 billion in 2023.
1.) Glasswerks of Los Angeles—Based in Los Angeles, CA—Servicing California, Nevada, and Hawaii markets. Products include insulating units, jumbo type, laminated, ballistic material and more.
2.) Glassnow—Based in Manor, Texas—Products include containers, bottles, and jars for personal care, gourmet food, and home fragrances.
3.) Gallo Glass—Based in Modesto, CA—Products include bottles and sustainable practices with recycled glass.
Glass is 100% recyclable, making it not only a sustainable resource but also one of the most renewable materials. It is the main material used for the best storage products that can preserve commodities for long periods of time. Glass has properties that make it easier to absorb and convert sunlight into energy, which is why it is used with solar panels. These aspects make it even more resourceful, renewable, and sustainable as a material.
Glass is a mixture of silica and siliceous sand, soda ash, limestone, and other materials in small amounts that modify its properties or composition. Businesses have grown in the glass product market due to the expanding needs of our society. Glass is one of the most sustainable materials due to its recyclability and renewability.
