Salvage Michigan is one of few companies who recycle glass in the Michigan area. Recycling glass started around 400 BC. Glass became important for our ancestors during war, diseases, and settlements. In the US, glass takes up 5% of garbage. Recycling glass helps save other resources such as sand, limestone, soda and feldspar.

History

The first glass was spot in Mesopotamia and Egypt around 3500 BC. The first glass vessels were made in 1500 BC. Over the next 500 years, Egypt and Syria were the center for glass manufacturing. At first, manufacturing glass was very hard and slow. However, a Syrian craftsmen invented a blow pipe that would help the production of glass become easier, faster and cheaper. A black volcanic glass known as the Obsidian, was created to make weapons and decorative objects. Obsidian became the very first glass in ages.

Types of Glass

Annealed Glass– A molten glass that cools slowly during its floating process. If it doesn’t cool slowly in room temperature, then it would crack into pieces. Annealed glass forms other complex forms of glass.

Heat Strengthened Glass– A very slow cooling process as well. However, way more complicated than the Annealed glass. In addition, it is twice as strong. Heating glass is about 12,000 degrees, in order to create its surface and edge compression.

Tempered or Toughened Glass– A faster process which produces a higher surface compression. Tempered glass is four times stronger than a Annealed glass. The surface of the glass compression is at least about 10,000 pounds due to the volume temperature.

Laminated Glass– Consists of two sheets of strengthen glass combined with a thick Polyiynil Butyral inter layer. Furthermore, the glass is much more safer and secure. Laminated glass is five times stronger than the usual glass.

Making New Glassware

Mix the following ingredients boric acid, silica, and sodium carbonated. Then, place mold around the powder mixture. Place the powder mixture in the kiln at 800C for 12 hours. Once the product turns into glass and its cooled down be sure to remove the mold carefully.

Sources

“History of Glass.” The History of Glass – Glass Facts, www.historyofglass.com/.

“A Guide to the 4 Main Glass Types.” BA Systems, 17 Oct. 2016, www.basystems.co.uk/blog/2016/10/glass-types/.

Instructables. “Make Glass From Scratch.” Instructables, Instructables, 23 Oct. 2017, www.instructables.com/id/Make-Glass-from-Scratch/.