• Question: How Is Glass Made?

    Asked by issi2001 to Anil, Blanka, Cees, Emma, Mike on 2 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Blanka Sengerova

      Blanka Sengerova answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      What we know as glass in windows and things like that is mostly made from silica, which is effectively sand. Simply speaking glass is made by melting the ingredients in a furnace, followed by homogenization and refining (removing of bubbles), and then by forming it. The final step can involve making it into sheets but also blowing or pressing, depending on what the final product is.

    • Photo: Emma Trantham

      Emma Trantham answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      I knew that glass was made by heating silica (sand) up very hot but am glad Blanka could add more details.

      Have you ever been to see any glass blowing? There are some places that let the public watch. The glass blowers are amazing – they can get the glass into such cool shapes!

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