Borosilicate Brilliance
An in-depth exploration of its properties, history, and diverse applications across science, industry, and technology.
What is Borosilicate? ๐ Explore Applications ๐กDive in with Flashcard Learning!
๐ฎ Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game๐ฎ
What is Borosilicate Glass?
Definition and Composition
Borosilicate glass is a specialized type of glass characterized by its primary constituents: silica (SiOโ) and boron trioxide (BโOโ). This unique composition imparts exceptional properties that distinguish it from common glass types.
Superior Thermal Properties
Its defining feature is an exceptionally low coefficient of thermal expansion, approximately 3.3 ร 10โปโถ Kโปยน at 20ยฐC. This property makes it highly resistant to thermal shock, allowing it to withstand significant temperature differentials (around 166ยฐC) without fracturing, a critical advantage in many demanding applications.
Comparison and Applications
While soda-lime glass is more common for general use, borosilicate glass excels where thermal stability and chemical resistance are paramount. It is extensively used for laboratory glassware, lighting components, electronic applications, and high-quality cookware.
A Legacy of Innovation
The Genesis in Jena
The foundation of borosilicate glass was laid in the late 19th century by German glassmaker Otto Schott in Jena. This early formulation became known as "Jena glass," pioneering the use of boron trioxide in glass manufacturing.
Pyrex and Global Recognition
Corning Glass Works introduced Pyrex in 1915, popularizing borosilicate glass in the English-speaking world. While the Pyrex brand has since expanded to include soda-lime glass products, its origin is deeply tied to the superior thermal resistance of borosilicate formulations.
Material Composition
Key Constituents
Borosilicate glass is primarily composed of approximately 80% silica (SiOโ) and 13% boron trioxide (BโOโ). It also typically includes around 4% sodium oxide (NaโO) or potassium oxide (KโO), and 2-3% aluminum oxide (AlโOโ). This precise blend dictates its characteristic properties.
Thermal Characteristics
The glass typically melts around 1,650ยฐC (3,000ยฐF). Its low thermal expansion coefficient (3.3 x 10โปโถ Kโปยน) is significantly lower than that of ordinary soda-lime glass (around 9 x 10โปโถ Kโปยน), contributing to its remarkable resistance to thermal stress and fracture.
Defining Physical Characteristics
Thermal Shock Resistance
The low thermal expansion minimizes internal stresses when subjected to temperature changes. This allows borosilicate glass to withstand temperature differentials of approximately 170ยฐC, far exceeding the capabilities of standard glass, making it ideal for applications involving rapid heating or cooling.
Chemical Durability
Borosilicate glass exhibits excellent resistance to chemical corrosion, even under harsh conditions. Tests for acid resistance reveal minimal impact, ensuring its integrity in laboratory environments where it frequently contacts various chemical reagents.
Optical Clarity
Optically, it functions as a crown glass, characterized by low dispersion (Abbe numbers around 65) and relatively low refractive indices (1.51โ1.54). This clarity is essential for precise optical instruments and scientific observations.
Viscosity and Working Temperature
The softening point, where viscosity reaches approximately 10โทยทโถ poise, is around 820ยฐC for common types like Pyrex 7740. Industrially, its workable temperature requires specialized techniques, often involving oxygen-fuel torches, reflecting its higher melting point.
Manufacturing Techniques
Production Methods
The creation of borosilicate glass products utilizes various methods tailored to the desired geometry. These include the float process for flat glass, tube drawing for hollow forms, and molding for specific shapes. Each technique leverages the unique rheological properties of molten borosilicate glass.
Classifying Borosilicate Glass
Non-Alkaline-Earth Borosilicates
This common category, often designated as borosilicate 3.3, features high silica (>80%) and moderate boron trioxide (12-13%). It offers the lowest thermal expansion among commercial glasses and excellent chemical durability, making it highly versatile for technical applications.
Alkaline-Earth Borosilicates
Containing approximately 75% silica, 8-12% boron trioxide, and up to 5% alkaline earth oxides and alumina, these variants are slightly softer. They exhibit thermal expansions in the range of 4.0โ5.0 ร 10โปโถ Kโปยน, offering a balance of properties for specific uses.
High-Borate Formulations
With boron trioxide content ranging from 15-25%, these glasses possess lower softening points and reduced chemical resistance compared to other borosilicates. However, they can offer enhanced UV transmission and unique sealing capabilities with certain metals.
Diverse Applications
Health and Science
Virtually all modern laboratory glassware, including beakers and flasks, is crafted from borosilicate glass due to its thermal and chemical resilience. It is also crucial for parenteral drug packaging (vials, syringes) and implantable medical devices, ensuring purity and stability.
Electronics and Lighting
In electronics, it's used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and historically in high-power vacuum tubes. For lighting, borosilicate glass serves as lenses in flashlights and outer envelopes for high-intensity discharge lamps, maximizing light transmittance.
Cookware and Tableware
Its thermal shock resistance makes it ideal for bakeware, measuring cups, and durable beverage glassware, particularly items intended for hot liquids. Many borosilicate items are microwave and dishwasher-safe, offering convenience and longevity.
Optics and Precision Instruments
Borosilicate glass is fundamental in optics, used for telescope mirrors (like the Hale Telescope's primary mirror) and precision lenses (e.g., Schott BK7). Its low thermal expansion ensures optical stability, critical for accurate measurements and imaging.
Advanced Manufacturing
In additive manufacturing, borosilicate glass is the material of choice for fused deposition modeling (FDM) build plates. Its thermal stability and flatness minimize warping during printing, ensuring reliable adhesion and part quality.
Aerospace and Energy
Borosilicate glass finds application in spacecraft heat shields (e.g., Space Shuttle, SpaceX Starship) and evacuated-tube solar thermal collectors, leveraging its strength and heat resistance in extreme environments.
Waste Management
It is employed in the immobilization and disposal of radioactive waste through vitrification, offering exceptional chemical durability that ensures containment for millennia.
Prominent Trade Names
Recognized Brands
Borosilicate glass is marketed under various trade names globally, reflecting its widespread adoption and specialized formulations. Some notable examples include:
- Borofloat (Schott AG)
- Duran (DURAN Group)
- Pyrex (Corning Inc.)
- Kimax (Kimble)
- Simax (Kavalierglass)
- BK7 (Schott AG - for optical applications)
- Fiolax (Schott AG - for pharmaceutical containers)
Specialized Forms and Techniques
Nanoparticles and Lampworking
Researchers have successfully synthesized borosilicate nanoparticles, enabling novel applications. In artistic and scientific glassblowing (lampworking), borosilicate is favored for its higher melting point ("hard glass") compared to soft glass, allowing for intricate scientific apparatus, artistic sculptures, and durable smoking pipes.
Artistic Applications
The development of colored borosilicate glass rods by companies like Northstar Glassworks has fueled artistic expression. Artists utilize its properties for creating vibrant beads, pendants, and complex glass art, appreciating its strength and predictable behavior under a torch flame.
Teacher's Corner
Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Click here to open the "Borosilicate Glass" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit
Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.
True or False?
Test Your Knowledge!
Gamer's Corner
Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!
Play now
References
References
- M. I. Ojovan and W.E. Lee. An Introduction to Nuclear Waste Immobilisation, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 315 p. (2005)
- Chemical & Engineering News Vol. 86 No. 37, 15 September 2008, "Making Borosilicate nanoparticles is now possible", p. 35
- Robert Mickelsen, "Art Glass Lampworking History" Online Glass Museum, http://www.theglassmuseum.com/lampwork.html
Feedback & Support
To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.
Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data and may not be exhaustive or entirely up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The information provided herein is not a substitute for expert consultation in material science, engineering, or manufacturing. Always refer to official documentation and consult qualified professionals for specific applications and requirements.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided.